Tamim makes it happen
On a fifth day wicket when Rangana Herath looked assured to exploit the cracks of the pitch, opener Tamim Iqbal came up with sterling effort which eventually proved to be decisive in Bangladeshs landmark victory over Sri Lanka. Tamims 82 runs knock was pivotal in setting up the thing upfront as Bangladesh overcame a late hiccup to register a four-wicket victory, chasing 191 runs target.
It was though called myth that Bangladesh win a match only when Tamim gives the side a good start, the stats preciously proved that. He made centuries in Bangladeshs recent Test victory against England, he also hit century and half-century in Bangladeshs victory over West Indies in 2009. In this centenary Test of Bangladesh, Tamim set the platform in both of the inningsfirstly his 49 in the first innings gave Bangladesh
a solid start and then his 82 in the fourth innings instilled a belief that Bangladesh would overcome the fifth day pitch demon to win the Test.
The start in pursuit of 191 wasnt straightforward. Rangana Herath made the Bangladesh team and its fans shivering down the spine by getting rid of Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes in the consecutive deliveries, leaving them at precarious 22 for two.
Everyone knows when the cracks of the pitch were exposed, how dangerous Herath could be. The cracks were created actually unethically by the Lankan batsmen as they knew the pitch was still favourable for batting. So when they came up in the fifth day morning to bat with two wickets at hands, Suranga Lakmal and Dilruwan Perera intentionally ran on the pitch to expose cracks.
Bangladesh objected and umpires also warned the batsmen but they paid no heed to it. So it was another challenge for Bangladesh to reply the Sri Lanka, playing with the spirit of the cricket. And Tamim was in the forefront.
He was watchful in the first hour, negotiating the spinner with soft hands and thereby laid a rock-solid foundation with a vital half-century which came off 87 balls. He showed assured footwork against spin: he was right forward to blunt full balls or right back to deal with the short balls. He then opened up with crunching drives, reverse sweeps and lofts after reaching his half-century. One such loft landed on the second floor of a corporate box on the second floor. The century looked imminent until Dinesh Chandimal took an excellent catch to remove him. But by then he took the side in the position of a famous victory.
There was something for the bowlers but we were very determined, Tamim said after the victory. What we decided was to bat long. Sabbir played excellently. All in all, it was a great win. The way Mosaddek batted in the first innings and he took the pressure away in the second. He is a player to watch.
The impact of the knock however rightly earned him the match of match award despite there were three centurions in the match and one of them was Shakib Al Hasan. His long time teammate Shakib also grabbed six wickets to show an all-round effort but had to loss it out to Tamim.
The opener however gave the award to Shakib, citing his contribution for the victory, confirmed commentator and presenter Russel Arnold. It was good gesture from Tamim but by any means this was the best knock from a Bangladeshi batsman on a difficult fifth day pitch.
