Sports Reporter :
A terrific century by opener Tamim Iqbal guided Bangladesh to pile up a massive total of 324 for the loss of five wickets against Sri Lanka in their first ODI at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Tamim Iqbal notched up a tremendous 127. His 142-ball innings was studded with 15 fours and a sixer. Tamim reached his eighth ODI hundred-run landmark playing 127 deliveries with 12 fours.
Bangladesh had a modest start as Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar, the two openers added 29 runs before Soumya Sarkar was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal off Suranga Lakmal.
Then Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman rescued their team from danger contributing together 90 runs for the second wicket stand before Sabbir Rahman was caught by Upul Tharanga off Asela Gunaratne when the Tigers’ total was 119 for the loss of two wickets.
Sabbir Rahman hit a superb 54. His 56-ball knock was laced with 10 fours. It was Sabbir’s 4th ODI half century.
Second-down Mushfiqur Rahim could stay at the crease for a short period as he (1) was caught & bowled by Lakshan Sandakan when the team’s score was 120 for the loss of three wickets.
After removal of Mushfiqur Rahim, in-form Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan built another notable partnership. They put on together 144 runs for the fourth wicket stand before Shakib Al Hasan was caught at the short fine leg by Lakshan Sandakan off Suranga Lakmal when the Tigers’ total was 164 for the loss of four wickets.
Shakib Al Hasan struck a superb 72. His 71-ball innings was ornamented with four fours and a sixer. Shakib reached his 33rd ODI fifty-run landmark using 61 balls with one four.
After departure of Shakib, opener Tamim Iqbal and Mosaddek Hossain added together 25 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Tamim was caught at the long-on by Danushka Gunathilaka off Lahiru Kamara when Bangladesh’s score was 289 for the loss of five wickets.
After dismissal of Tamim, Mosaddek Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyad contributed together 35 runs in the unbroken sixth wicket stand before Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Mosaddek remained unbeaten with 24. His nine-ball innings was belted with three fours and a sixer.
Mahmudullah Riyad remained unbeaten with 13. He hit one four in his seven-ball knock.
Lakmal bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 45 runs, while Gunaratne, Sandakan, Kumara got one wicket each conceding 40, 43 and 74 runs respectively.
