Bangladesh ride on Tamim’s ton to enter Super 10 : Bangladesh made it to the Super 10 stage after defeating Oman, who made their debut in T20 World Cup, in their qualifying encounter at Dharmashala.
Put in to bat, Bangladesh made the best use of the track and scored 180 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in their 20 over quota.
Losing Soumya Sarkar (12) at the team score of 42/1, the Bangladesh’s star opener, Tamim Iqbal and the man-in-form, Shabbir Rahman (44), plundered runs at their will and established a partnership of 97 runs in 9.1 overs for the second wicket.
Playing in his 49th match, Tamim went on to score his maiden T20I century. His half-century came by way of a boundary off Aamir Kaleem. The first delivery of the 13th over was a short, flat one down the leg-side, which Tamim, just drove it to the short-fine leg boundary.
He brought up his century in the fourth delivery of the 19th over bowled by Bilal Khan. The low full toss outside the off-stump was thumped through the cover gap for a four.
Tamim remained unbeaten on 103* runs off 63 deliveries with 10 fours and 5 sixes.
While on his individual score of 4, Tamin was dropped by Amir Ali off his own bowling which he and his team would have regretted later in the game.
Oman”s spinners, particularly, came in for harsh treatment.
Speaking at the break Tamim said. “We were having this camp back home when Chandi (Chandika Hathuresingha) asked for a hundred. I put my hands up and said, “I will give you a hundred in this World Cup”. It feels good that I kept my promise. It was fun.”
On account of weather intervention, the target was revised to 120 runs from 12 overs.
However, the Bangladesh all-rounder, Shakib al Hasan made short work of the Omani batsmen by taking 4 wickets, giving away only 15 runs in his spell of 3 overs.
With just Jatinder Singh (25), and Adnan Ilyas (13) getting into the double digit, Oman innings folded up with 65 runs losing 9 wickets in 12 overs.
Bangladesh won the match by 54 runs under Duckworth-Lewis method and made their entry into Super 10. They are in Group A and giving company to them are India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia.
Tamim Iqbal was awarded the Player of the Match.
Speaking at the post match presentation, Bangladesh skipper, Mashrafe Mortaza said, “Looking forward to the next big four matches. Thanks to Tamim, last three matches he has been scoring. Can”t make any mistakes in the main draw. We played fearless cricket, that was a big decision but our coach has been giving us confidence. If you want to perform, you have to play fearless cricket.”
Player of the Match, Tamim said, “Next stage is very important for us. Pakistan game very important. I hope I can continue the form. I just try to be calmer, don”t watch to rush the shots. Finally got a hundred, that was due. PSL was very important because I carried the form here after playing against some very good players. If we can play to our potential, anything can happen.”
Well Bangladesh is one team; which is to be watched very closely. They are capable of causing big upsets, on any given day.
