Ton-up Tamim stars in Tigers series win
100th ODI win for Bangladesh
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh played to their full potential to show the gulf of difference between them and Afghanistan as they confirmed the 100th ODI victory and sixth straight bilateral series with an emphatic 141-run victory in the deciding third match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Opener Tamim Iqbal smashed a run-a-ball 118, steering Bangladesh to a respectable 279 for eight after which the bowlers bowled well in tandem to shoot Afghanistan out for 138 in 33.5 overs.
Tamim was aided by Sabbir Rahmans 79 ball-65 and combined for a 140-run partnership to set the platform, though the middle order failed to capitalize on it.
The 118 runs knock, in which Tamim hit 11 fours and two sixes, was his seventh ODI century that put him in the lead of the century tally for Bangladesh, eclipsing Shakib Al Hasan.
But the most important aspect of his batting was he held together the fragile batting line up even though he was not at his best in the business. He could have gone before opening the account but to his delight Ashghar Stanikzai put down a sitter at mid-on as Tamim tried to pull Mohammad Nabi but miscued being fooled by the extra bounce.
Though that was the only chance he gave, Tamim wasnt as dominating as he used to be. He, however, still rallied the innings with the astute help of Sabbir Rahman who was promoted to No. 3, a strategic move that proved to be crucial.
Mahmudullah Riyad didnt fare badly in this position but the team management pondered Riyad could be more aggressive component than Sabbir in the late order because of his versatility which later was proved preciously.
Soumya Sarkar, however, yet again perished to a loose shot on 11, prompting Sabbir to come to the crease. His tenacity to tick the scoreboard at swift pace however took the pressure off Tamim who was bit rickety at the start.
As Sabbir scored runs
From Page 1 Col 8
without any hassle, Tamim regained his mozo gradually and once he got set, he unleashed some powerful shots from his repertoire. He firstly took Mirwais Ashraf in disdain to steady himself and then played with assured hands till getting out.
Rahmat Shah broke the partnership after Sabbir scored his career best 65, hitting six fours and three sixes.
After his dismissal, Tamim brought up his seventh century in 110 balls. Tamim then struck a four and two sixes in a row to make the Afghan bowlers disarray but the similar effort brought an end to his knock.
Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim failed to utilize the platform set by Tamim as both played across the line to pay the price.
Riyad however made some amends by his late onslaught and took Bangladesh a safe distance but still they were 20/30 runs short from a formidable total.
Off-spinner Mohamad Nabi, leg-spinner Rashid Khan and medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf claimed two wickets apiece.
Bangladesh though squandered the chance to score 300, it mattered little as the bowlers left Afghanistan cornered right from the start.
Captain Mashrafe led the bowling from the front despite it appeared he was feeling pain on his ankle after slipping to the ground while coming to bowl. Given his injury history, it was an ominous sign but much to the relief of the crowd and Bangladesh team management, it wasnt serious as he started bowling again.
Before the incident he made the breakthrough to spark Afghan collapse. Left arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel, back to the team after a long gap, kept the pressure set by the captain as he dealt a double strike in his second over to leave Afghanistan 52 for three. Taskin Ahmed and Shafiul Islam joined the party to force Afghan lose seven wickets before they crossed 100. Nazibullah Zadran then took some big hits but the big defeat for the visitors was inevitable. Rahmat Shah was the highest scorer of the team with 36.
Mosharraf claimed three for 24 in his comeback match while Taskin took two.
After the victory, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Bangladesh cricket team for their 100th win in the ODI cricket and for clinching the series against Afghanistan, reports UNB.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also greeted the Bangladesh cricket team for their win.
In a message, the BNP chairperson said, I congratulate all the players, the coach, officials and all concerned of the Bangladesh National Cricket team on their outstanding success.
SCOREBOARD
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim c Sub b Nabi 118
Soumya c Shahzad b
Ashraf 11
Sabbir c Mangal b Shah 65
Shakib c Shahzad b
Dawlat 17
Mushfiqur lbw b Rashid 12
M Riyad not out 32
Mosaddek st Shahzad b
Rashid 4
Mosharraf c Najibullah b
Nabi 4
Mashrafe c Mangal b
Ashraf 2
Shafiul not out 2
Extras (b2 w8,nb2) 12
Total ( 8 wickets, 50 overs) 279
Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-163, 3-212, 4-226, 5-230, 6-235, 7-248, 8-270.
BOWLING O M R W
M Nabi 10 1 41 1
Dawlat 10 0 58 1
M Ashraf 8 0 43 2
Shinwari 3 0 28 0
Rashid 10 0 39 2
Shah 8 0 59 1
N Mangal 1 0 9 0
Afghanistan innings:
M Shahzad b Mashrafe 0
N Mangal lbw b Mosharraf 33
Rahmat c sub b Taskin 36
Hashmatullah c Tamim b
Mosharraf 0
A Stanikzai run out 1
S Shenwari c Mushfiqur b
Taskin 13
M Nabi c b Mosharraf 3
N Zadran c Sabbir b
Mosaddek 26
Rashid run out 17
M Ashraf not out 4
Dawlat c b Shafiul 0
Extras (b 1, w 4) 5
Total (10 wickets; 33.5 overs) 138
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-52, 3-52, 4-55, 5-83, 6-88, 7-89, 8-132, 9-132, 10-138.
BOWLING O M R W
Mashrafe 6 2 15 1
Shafiul 5.5 0 28 1
Shakib 6 0 34 0
Mosharraf 8 1 24 3
Taskin 7 0 31 2
Mosaddek 1 0 5 1
