Bangladesh 302/2 [Imrul Kayes 130, Tamim Iqbal 109, Mominul 46* ]
Our Friend Dr Maung Kyaw Sein named it “Bongo Wash.”
Roaring Tigers are unleashed on their prey. Getting the taste of blood, tigers are looking relentless.
Tiger Tamim pairing with cool cucumber mate Kayes set their opening partnership to a record height scoring twin tons on the first day of Chittagong test placed Bangladesh on the path of Bongo Washing the Zimbabweans.
The team is sitting pretty at 302/2 at stumps. Tamim scored 109 his sixth century and first in his home city and Kayes scored 130. At stumps inform batsmen Mominul on 46 and Mahmudullah on 5 were at the crease. Bangladesh is set for a mammoth first innings which will be half works than for a series white wash.
Tamim's sixth Test hundred, equal with Mohammad Ashraful for most hundreds by a Bangladeshi. He spent slightly over four hours at the crease for a second consecutive hundred in this series, after his 109 in Khulna. This was his repeat achievement of consecutive test hundreds. He spent more than four years without his next hundred after consecutive centuries against England in Englans in Lord's and Manchester.
Very few things went the visitors’ way after Mushfique won the toss and elected to bat on a flat wicket. Zimbabwe lacks quality spinners to trouble tigers .The pacers bowled all over the places. Tamim, Kayes were relentless. If Tamim’s ton at Khulna was soft soothing fountain the one he presented to his home city fans was like Monsoon River in full spate. His mate Imrul Kayes celebrated his return to the side matched Tamim strokes for strokes.
Tamim scored 109 with fourteen fours and a six while 130 of Kayes was decorated with twelve fours and two sixes. The 224 run first wicket partnership is the new record bettering their own of stand of 185 scored at Lords in 2010.Opening partnership was in a little spot of bother in the two previous tests as Young Shamsur Rahman failed to fire.
Mominul and Mahmudullah, the two inform batsmen are expected the accelerate this morning after which sizzling Shakib and reliable Musfique may pounce on the pathetic looking Zimbabweans. Tamim was struggling to find his feet at Dhaka test. He played an out of character slow and sedate innings at Khulna to get back into rhyme. He appeared at his brilliant best in his home city which eluded him all along from the century milestone in all formats of international cricket .He drove and cut with cavalier elegance. Some of his straight drives and cover drives were treat to watch .He was really looking in belligerent mood. Kayes had a poor time in the Caribbean.
He was not in the original test squad and was sent to West Bengal with BCB XI to play in the 150 th year mega celebration of historic Eden Gardens Kolkata where he roared back into form. He could have played at Khulna after being drafted in the side. He was elegant playing equally aggressively like his reliable partner Tamim. The boy from Meherpur, Kushtia celebrated his return to test cricket with his second test century.
Bangladesh should bat a bit aggressively on day two and try to reach a score in excess of 550 by mid-way of the second session batting the visitors out of the test first. Then enough time should be given to the bowlers to hunt twenty Zimbabwean wickets in registering the series white wash. When it happens will send a very strong message to ICC announcing Tigers readiness for more test series against major opposition at home and abroad. Our SAARC neighbor India which played the first ever test that Bangladesh played in 2000 at Dhaka has never invited Bangladesh for a bilateral series in India .Australia only invited for a two test mini-series at Darwin and Cairns. Bangladeshis are yet to play at MCG, SCG, WACA, Woolong Gaba, Adelaide Oval and Belrieve Oval. Bangladesh will consolidate its position at ninth spot in ICC ranking and will be well on the way to closing the gap with West Indies for the 8 th position.
The only matter of bother was that frustratingly fewer crowd appeared on the terrace on day one to witness the home grown hero reaching a coveted milestone after two massive crowd celebrated tigers victories at Dhaka and Khulna.
The wicket looks pretty flat and fortune favored Bangladesh with the toss. Bangladesh has put a score on the board and may score a huge first innings score. The sheer weight of runs creates huge pressure. Sakib, Taijul and Jubair will get required cushion for teasing and tormenting the clueless Zimbabwean batsmen. Catching was an issue in the previous two tests for the tigers. They are expected to field better and take their opportunities.
Cricket is a funny game. It can change hue any time. So nothing can be taken as guaranteed at any stage of the game. The first hour of the second day is very crucial. Mominul and Mahamudullah will require digging in for a while. Reliable Mominul was not looking at his soothing best last evening losing his timing a bit.
Mahmudullah looked as solid as ever. Another hour of these two at the wicket will give solid platform upon which Super Shakib and Majestic Mushfique can prey the visitors toothless bowling .All looks rosy for the tigers at this moment .Wonder how taste of victory changes a team .The confidence level of tigers is rocketing now. The victories of Bangladesh in cricket are boosting the morale of Bangladeshis in all spheres of nation building efforts. Success breeds success.
BDST: 0847 HRS, NOV 13, 2014
