Tamim troubles England
TAMIM IQBAL’S superb hundred helped take Bangladesh to 305 for six against England in the opening match of the 2017 Champions Trophy at the Oval yesterday.
The left-hander received excellent support from Mushfiqur Rahim (79) in a third-wicket partnership of 166.
Both batsmen, however, fell in successive balls from fast bowler Liam Plunkett to leave Bangladesh 261 for four in the 45th over.
Fast bowler Plunkett led England’s attack with four for 59 from his maximum 10 overs after Chris Woakes went off after bowling just two overs because of a left side strain.
England, who came into this tournament featuring the world’s top eight ODI sides as one of the favourites after making huge strides in white-ball cricket in the last two years, were given plenty to think about after skipper Eoin Morgan opted to field despite sunny skies promising good batting conditions.
Tamim’s fellow left-handed opener Soumya Sarkar should have been out for 11 when he turned Jake Ball off his pads only for Moeen Ali to drop a twohanded catch at square leg.
But all-rounder Ben Stokes made the breakthrough with the last ball of his first over when Sarkar, on 38, uppercut him straight to substitute Jonny Bairstow at deep cover.
Imrul Kayes (19) fell when a miscued drive off Plunkett was well caught by a diving Mark Wood at mid-on to leave Bangladesh 95 for two in the 20th over.
That was the cue for Tamim and the diminutive Mushfiqur to take charge.
An increasingly frustrated Stokes exchanged words with Tamim and the all-rounder mockingly patted him on the shoulder at the end of the 32nd over.
Tamim was unimpressed and umpires Rod Tucker and S Ravi intervened to calm tempers.
Mushfiqur then punished Ball for dropping short by cutting him to the third man boundary.
A single against off-spinner Ali saw Tamim reach his ninth ODI century in 124 balls. The 28-year-old then went down the pitch to drive Ali for a soaring straight six. He was out when a skyed pull off Plunkett was held by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
The batsmen had crossed and next ball Mushfiqur carelessly holed out to long-off, with Bangladesh only managing a relatively modest 43 off the last five overs. – AFP