Tamim Iqbal returned to the competitive cricket with a bang after recovering from his injury as he smacked a century in the warm-up game against West Indies to gain much-needed confidence ahead of the three-match ODI series, slated to begin on December 9. Tamim’s marauding knock was complemented by an even attacking century from Soumya Sarkar as the BCB XI comfortably beat West Indies by 51 runs as per D/L method in a high-scoring match. The victory particularly was a huge confidence-boosting given, the high profile BCB XI side, that was boasted with several national players including the ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza didn’t bog down or scare by the huge total in the board.

West Indies, opting to bat first, compiled a hefty 331 for eight in 50 overs, thanks to two half-century plus innings from opener Shai Hope and Roston Chase. BCB XI was 314 for six in 41 overs and effectively was ahead as per D/L score when the bad light forced the pre-mature end of the game.

While Hope hammered 84 ball-81, clattering six boundaries and three sixes to set the platform, Chase utilised it to full effect, giving a late impetus as he blasted 51 ball-65 not out, laced with six fours and one six.

Opener Keiran Powell, after a devastating Test series, seemed to get some form with 49 ball-43 while young Fabien Alledn came up with late onslaught alongside Chase to hit 48 off 32, designed with eight fours and a six.

For Bangladesh, pacer Rubel Hossain and left-arm spinner Mehedi Hasan Rana and Nazmul Islam Apu claimed two wickets apiece. After returning to the competitive cricket following a long hiatus, captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, scalped one for 37 runs in eight overs.

However the visitors’ superlative effort hardly could make any impact on Bangladesh. The early impetus was given by openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes who shared 81 runs in just 9 overs with Tamim at the fore. The flamboyant opener showed no sign of long gap from the cricket as he took the West Indies bowlers in disdain right from the start, hitting boundaries in all corner of the park.

Kayes was removed after scoring 27 off 25, but Tamim continued his stroke-display to make the West Indian bowlers hapless. He got an ably support from Soumya Sarkar, who started matching him stroke to stroke but Tamim was in such destructive form that a natural hitter Soumya couldn’t match him for long.

Tamim’s 107 came off just 73 balls, studded with 13 fours and four sixes. Soumya’s 103 not out was designed by seven fours and six sixes in 83 balls. They shared 114 off just 83 balls to keep the side aloft half-way through the innings.

Chase however dismissed Tamim and was instrumental in mini middle order collapse of BCB XI that saw it turned out to be 265 for six from 195 for one. Soumya however remained unfazed by the wickets tumbling at the other end and when the hopes seemed to be ended, he got a much-needed support from captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

The ODI captain also showed his big-hitting prowess alongside Soumya to keep Bangladesh ahead in terms of D/L score. Finally when the bad light halted the march of the game, the issue played a pivotal role in helping Bangladesh win the game.