Tamim Iqbal had been dismissed in the nineties twice in his the last five innings against Sri Lanka, coming into the first Test.
He had seven half-centuries against them in the format, but had not breached the three-figure mark even once. The 31-year-old made sure he set the records straight as he notched up his 10th Test century on the third day, helping the hosts take control of the first Test, in Chattogram.
By stumps, Bangladesh had piled on 318 for 3 and were just 79 runs away from Sri Lanka’s first-innings score of 397. Mush-fiqur Rahim, who is just 15 runs away from becoming the first Bangladesh player to reach 5000 runs in Test cricket, ended the day unbeaten on 53. Litton Das, who added 98 with Mushfiqur, was also unbeaten, on 54. Tamim, for the most part looked like reaching the 5000-run mark first, but was forced to retire hurt on 133 because of cramps. He is now 19 runs away from the landmark.
The third day, though, firmly belonged to Tamim, who fought the weather, and some tight bowling. He was his usual aggres-sive self from the get-go and found boundaries at regular intervals in the morning session. Unbeaten on 35 overnight, Tamim raced to his fifty in the fifth over the morning and notched up his ton shortly after lunch. However, the humid conditions got the better of him and he could not come out to bat after tea.
Resuming on 76 for 0, still 321 runs behind, Bangladesh’s batters quickly went about their job. In a near-perfect morning session, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Tamim added 81 runs in 28 overs, as Bangladesh went to lunch unscathed on 157 for 0.
Tamim brought up his fifty by cutting Ramesh Mendis wide of point for a four and it did not take long for the duo to bring up Bangladesh’s first century stand for the opening wicket in over five years.
Mahmudul, too, raised his second half-century in just his fifth Test with a flick through midwicket but fell shortly after lunch. Having had a reprieve on 51, when Lasith Embuldeniya failed to hold on to a catch at the fine-leg, the 21-year-old finally fell for 58 to Asitha Fernando. Continuing with his ploy of bowling short from around the wicket, Asitha induced a faint tickle off Mahmudul’s bat and glove down leg through to the keeper, with the opening stand ending on 162.
Tamim though continued on his merry ways, as he coasted through the nineties with a couple of fours before reaching his century by flicking Asitha to deep midwicket.
However, having looked flat in the morning, Sri Lanka were much better with their control in the second session. Kasun Rajitha came in as concussion substitute for Vishwa Fernando.—Agencies
