Opener Tamim Iqbal returned to where he ended through a blazing century against Pakistan in the second one-day international at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday. Tamim, now the joint leading century maker for Bangladesh with six, continued to flourish with the bat, following opening match’s 132 with a run-a-ball 116, leading Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win.His feat also helped the Tigers to secure t their first ever series win against Pakistan after they restricted the visitors to 239-6 and overhauled the total with as many as 71 balls in hand.
A power failure at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium delayed his century for a while but it did not take anything away from him as the achieved it in style off 108 balls, gliding Junaid Khan towards fine leg.
Unlike the opening game when he made a gesture apparently looked like asking his critics to go silent, Tamim just rolled his bat in the air like wheel before opening his helmet to acknowledge the clapping fans and team-mates.
Tamim looked to be short of self-belief in the last few months but regained his confidence with his century in the first match. The only six in his innings over the head of bowler Junaid Khan could be a good example of his self-confidence.
The straight six must have reminded everyone of his early days when he hit a similar short off the bowling if India’s Zaheer Khan during Bangladesh’s epic win back in World Cup 2007.
There was further proof as his first fifty runs came off just 31 balls , his fastest so far, improving his record against England in 2010 at this very ground when he took one more ball.
It was only fourth fastest fifty by a Bangladeshi player in ODI. The previous four fifties were scored by Abdur Razzak (21 balls, against Zimbabwe at Bullaywo in 2013) Mohammad Ashraful (21 balls, against England at Trent bridge in 2006) Aftab Ahmed (24 balls against Kenya at Khulna in 2006) and Mashrafee bin Murtaza (26 balls against Scotland in 2006 at Mirpur).
The century against Pakistan in the opening game looked to have changed the batting approach of Tamim, who lately used to be somewhat cautious at the start of his innings.
But hardly did he took time to unleash himself when he stroked three successive boundaries from Rahat Ali’s opening four deliveries at the sixth over of the Bangladesh Innings.
That looked to have set the tone of his batting as he took the bowlers to his sword giving no respite to anyone. Three successive fours in back-to-back overs bowled by Saeed Ajmal and Wahab Riaz apparently destroyed Pakistani bowlers’ confidence.
Before the series Tamim received his backing from coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and skipper Mashrafee bin Muratza after his position in the team was called into question by some corners and Tamim repaid the duo with back-to-back centuries.
Tamim achieved similar feat in Tests twice in 2010 against England and in 2014 against Zimbabwe. Now he became only third Bangladeshi to achieve the same in one-dayer after Shariar Nafees and Mahmudullah.
The elegant southpaw could not have asked for anything better.
-With New Age input
