SYLHET, March 3, 2020 (BSS)- Opener Tamim Iqbal ended the run-draught with an excellent century against Zimbabwe in second ODI, which came with some added bonanzas on Tuesday.
He rewrote the record in the process and in doing so gave the critics a
befitting reply after being blamed for his slow approach.
He smashed his career-best 158 off 136, hitting 20 fours and three sixes.
The knock is a best individual knock by a Bangladeshi batsman in the ODI
cricket.
That was the only second 150 plus knock by a Bangladeshi batsman and on
both occasion Tamim was the batsman. His 154 also came against Zimbabwe in
2009, when Bangladesh successfully chased Zimbabwe’s 312 to win the game.
This was his 12th ODI century, comfortably most by any Bangladeshi batsman
and during the process, he reached 7000 runs mark, which also comfortably the
best amongst the country’s batsman.
Shakib Al Hasan, who has been serving the ban imposed by ICC, remains the
second best in terms of century and runs in the ODI cricket. Shakib so far
has nine centuries and 6323 runs under his belt.
Tamim might be comfortably the best in those two aspects but the century
came after much criticism regarding his batting style as he was criticized
vehemently for his slow approach during the power play.
His batting stats suggested that he often failed to keep his strike rate
close to 100, a thing that didn’t suit the modern cricket.
The criticism for his batting approach began from long days ago but it was
always said that Tamim was given anchor role, for which he had to do a holder
job to keep his wicket intact and resist the collapse. However, before the
second match against Zimbabwe, batting consultant Neil Mckenzie ruled it out,
saying he was never given this sort of role.
McKenzie though praised and said a big score is around the corner for a
quality batsman like Tamim Iqbal, he also seemed not to please with the
approach that Tamim was playing cricket.
What was the most pleasing factor for McKenzie and the team management
that, Tamim kept his strike rate close to 100 always during the way of his
century. His century came off 106 balls with the help of 14 boundaries. He
became more ruthless after the century and brought up his next 58 runs off
just 30 balls.
At one phase, it seemed, Tamim was going to be the first Bangladeshi
batsman to hit a double century in ODI cricket but Carl Mumba eventually had
him caught by Tinotenda Mutumbodzi at long off as Tamim went for an expensive
drive in bid to bring up another boundary.
Finally his master class came to an end after he smashed 158 off 136,
studded by 20 fours and three sixes.
This was, however, the century that came after 23 matches. To be precious,
Tamim got his last century, a 103 off 124 at Basseterre in West Indies in
July 2018. In this period he struck five half-centuries, last of which came
before seven matches– a 62 against Australia during the 2019 World Cup.
He was the reason for the dismissal of Liton Das (9) and Nazmul Hossain
Shanto (6), who were trapped run-out by Tamim’s fault but the senior opener
eventually amended it with a fluent knock that reminded Tamim of his old.