Tamim Iqbal may have missed the chance of scoring three successive centuries in one-day internationals cricket but his partner Soumya Sarkar seemed to take inspiration from his batting to score his maiden hundred on Wednesday. The 22-year left-hander was credited for bringing a positive air to Bangladesh’s top-order in the recent World Cup but still missed a long innings at the biggest stage except a fifty against New Zealand in Hamilton.
He finally ended the drought when the former BKSP student struck 127 off 110 balls, as Bangladesh thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets to complete the clean sweep in the three-match series.
This was the only missing link in his fledging, 10-match international cricket career that already earned him the tag of a star-in-the-making.
His inclusion in the Bangladesh national team for the fifth and final match against Zimbabwe in last November was not free from controversy as there were few more worthy contenders for the slot.
An innings of 20 runs in his debut match could not make him an instant superstar but it had enough indication that had prompted the selectors to include him in the World Cup squad.
He received his full backing from national coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and repaid him with a brief but a highly positive innings in the decisive group match against England after Bangladesh lost the openers cheaply.
His maiden fifty came in a similar circumstance against New Zealand, which earned his plaudits from many former cricketers across the world.
The biggest strength of his batting is his fearless attitude that typified Bangladesh during the World Cup.
Despite all positive words, Somuya needed a long innings like this to keep his position intact. With Anamul Haque returning to form and fitness, Mominul Haque waiting in the dressing room, Rony Talukdar and Liton Das looking for a break, Bangladesh’s top-order batting had never been so much competitive.
Soumya therefore needed a special innings to show that he is better than others and is the worthy companion of Tamim Iqbal at opening slot.
He had been regular as an opener in the domestic circuit but batted at number three in the World Cup as Anamul had his position cemented that time.
He got back his favourite position once Anamul was declared unfit and Imrul Kayes, who replaced the later in the World Cup, lost his form and place.
Soumya was given a chance to open with Tamim, who rediscovered himself in the series and scored two centuries in first two matches.
Somuya could contribute only 20 and 17 runs in the first two matches, but thanks to Tamim, his performance did not affect the team.
He finally rose to the occasion to share 145 runs with Tamim that had made the clean sweep all but a certainty.
Tamim could not repeat his heroic this time and was out for 64 runs but Somuya made sure the Tigers still had someone to display a similar flair of stroke play.
-With New Age input
