Marauding Tamim inscribes record book again
His blistering 157 helps MSC post first win
Sports Reporter
Tamim Iqbal inscribed his name to the folklore of Bangladesh domestic cricket by hitting the highest individual knock in the ongoing Walton Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.
He hammered a marauding 125 ball-157, a knock which gave his team Mohammedan Sporting Club a 24-run win over Kalabagan Krira Chakra at BKSP-4 ground yesterday.
It is the highest individual knock for a Bangladeshi batsman in the List A cricket and in the process Tamim indeed eclipsed the previous highest 154, also created by him what he scored against Zimbabwe in 2009. That 154-run scripted Bangladeshs first ever victory chasing a target of 300 plus.
Despite forming a formidable team on paper, Mohammedan lost the first match to Gazi Group Cricketers by seven wickets. Tamim wasnt in the team because of serving a one-match ban following his misbehaves with the umpires in the last match of the last seasons league.
Mohammedan fortune was changed because of the inclusion of him but they need to rethink about their strategy once Tamim would leave the team to join the national team. The next best of Mohammedans innings was 38 by Tamims fellow opener Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, showing the fact how one-man show the match was.
Tamim in fact started from where he left in the last season. In the last match of the last league, he struck a brilliant 132 ball-142 and he followed it up with 157 this time. However Tamims 157 which was laced with 18 fours and seven sixes steered Mohammedan to 307 for nine after which the bowlers overcame a spirited Kalabagan to hold back to 283 for nine.
As has been the case, Tamim was watchful during the beginning of his innings. He didnt find any boundary in the first eight overs and played with soft hands. The national opener came out from the shell in the ninth over, hitting off-spinner Sanjit Shaha a six. And from then, he was unstoppable.
Tamim reached his first fifty off 61 balls, second off 41 and third off just 21 balls, a stat that was the testament of his aggressiveness and showed how dangerous he could become as the time passes.
Such was his belligerence that once the ball was lost when he hit sixes and one other six broke the glass of a private car.
His steady batting ensured Mohammedan would get a solid base as he and Shamsur added 73 runs to the opening stand. After Shamsurs departure, no batsmen could make the innings bigger, but Tamims assuredness in the other end kept Mohammedan going.
Tamim had the chance to score a double century as the first Bangladeshi batsman in List A cricket as he reached his 150-run mark in 40th overs. However Sanjit Shaha prevented him from making more carnage. When Tamim was dismissed in 43rd over, Mohammedan were 248 for five with Tamim himself 157.
There was chance for Mohammedan to pile up more agony on the Kalabagan bowlers but no batsmen from the team came up with any stellar effort and that was the reason, they had to be contented with 307 eventually.
Kalabagan lost the opener Jasimuddin cheaply but Ashraful showed he had stored enough in him. He took the Mohammedan attack in precision to keep his side in hunting. He was dismissed against the play after scoring 46 off 49, nevertheless the chase was alive, thanks to Hamilton Masakadza and Tushar Imran.
Masakadza made 68 and Tushar hit 62 as the duo shared 82 runs for the third wicket stand to make Mohammedan shivering down the spine.
Once Mehedi Hasan Miraj broke the partnership by removing Tushar, Kalabagan started losing wickets in a cluster. However Muktar Alis 32 ball-38 not out still kept Mohammedan scared before the bowlers once again bowled nicely to ensure the teams first victory in the league.
Kamrul Islam Rabbi claimed three for 69 while Mehedi Hasan Miraj scalped two for 56.
