Tamim 158 takes Bangladesh to massive 322-8
Tamim scored an incredible 158 off 136 deliveries, breaking his own record of the highest individual innings for Bangladesh.
Liton Das had scored a fantastic hundred in Bangladesh's first ODI against Zimbabwe at Sylhet. In the second match, Tamim took up up the mantle and scored a brilliant century to take Bangladesh to 322-8.
Apart from Tamim's huge ton, Mushfiqur Rahim scored a fifty and there were vital contributions from Mohammad Mithun and Mahmudullah Riyad.
Bangladesh batting consultant Neil McKenzie just said on Monday that Tamim needed a couple of boundaries in the powerplay to regain his confidence.
But Tamim did way better as he hit ten boundaries in the powerplay after Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and decided to bat first.
Liton, last match's centurion, was dismissed unluckily as the ball ricocheted off the bowler and ran him out at the non-striker's end. But Tamim went on to pick up his fifty off 42 deliveries.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto was the next to go as he went back for 6 after a miscommunication in the middle with Tamim. The misunderstanding left both batsmen stranded at one end and Shanto was second time unlucky in the series.
But from then on, Tamim put up stands of 87 and 106 runs with Mushfiq and Mahmudullah respectively. Mushfiq was dismissed after scoring a quick fifty and Mahmudullah managed 41.
In the meantime, Tamim reached three figures off 106 balls and immediately cut loose. He, along with Mahmudullah, took 24 off the 40th over bowled by Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Tamim never stopped till getting dismissed on 158. Tamim scored his last 57 runs off just 30 deliveries and in the process, broke his own record of the highest individual innings in ODIs for Bangladesh. Tamim had scored 154 against Zimbabwe back in 2009 and broke the record himself a decade later. Tamim's 158 runs consisted of 20 fours and three sixes and he ended with a strike rate of 116.
Bangladesh brought up their 300 in the 47th over and their third hundred came off just 57 deliveries, courtesy of Tamim bludgeoning the Zimbabwean bowlers.
Bangladesh lost four wickets in their last five overs but Mithun took Bangladesh to 322-8 with a 32-run innings off 18 deliveries.
Carl Mumba and Donald Tiripano picked up a couple of wickets whereas Wesley Madhevere and Charlton Tshuma picked up one each for Zimbabwe.