Tamim’s ton sets Bangladesh on course
DHARAMSALA: It was just a matter of time. Ever since Tamim Iqbal arrived in Dharamsala, he has been hitting the ball clean and straight. Against the Netherlands, he scored 81, while Ireland were lucky to escape his wrath as he had set himself with a 47 off 34 balls before rains came. Oman, on Sunday, endured the full force of Tamim’s form as he carried his bat through the innings, raising 103 off 63 balls inclusive of 10 fours and five maximums, becoming the first from his country to reach three figures in T20 internationals. The knock all but sealed Bangladesh’s qualification as rain marred Oman’s near-impossible chase (52 for 5 in 9.1 overs) in a game where the winner goes through.
OMAN KEEP THINGS QUITE
Oman, having defeated Ireland, started well initially managing to keep Bangladesh openers Tamim and Soumya Sarkar quite. Tamim had to graft as Sarkar struggled to put bat to ball. Led by left-arm pacer Bilal Khan, Oman’s army of slow bowlers — Ajay Lalcheta, Amir Ali, Khawar Ali and Amir Kaleem — kept things tight. But Tamim refused to give in, showing great temperament to slug it out and produce an epic knock for his side and take them a formidable total of 180.
It took him five balls to get a run on board. The first boundary came off the seventh ball, a straight drive right past Oman’s bespectacled spinner Amir Ali. At the other end, Sarkar struggled and perished trying to heave one out of the park for 12 off 22 balls.
Having set himself in, Tamim opened up in the seventh over smashing Lalcheta for a six and four. Tamim targeted Lalcheta and Munis Ansari, scoring 29 and 22 runs of them. As runs flowed in small bursts, at the other end, Sabbir Rahman kept the scoreboard ticking, mixing cheeky singles with occasional boundaries. The duo raised 97 for the second wicket, setting up the platform for Bangladesh to go all out.
Tamim’s century came in the 19th over as he drilled one past the covers off Bilal Khan. Off came the helmet as Tamim jumped in joy. Bangladesh will face Pakistan in Kolkata on March 16 if they go through.