Tamim smashes 14th ODI ton

Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal smashed his 14th ODI ton as Bangladesh look solid in their chase of a challenging total in their third and final ODI against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club today. 

Tamim remains unbeaten on 107 off 91 deliveries as Bangladesh moved on to 192 for two after 31 overs in response to Zimbabwe's score of 298.

The left-hander, who is playing by 'managing his knee pain', brought up his hundred off just 87 deliveries -- Tamim's quickest ton in ODIs. He smashed Tendai Chatara for a boundary on the off-side in the first ball of the 30th over to get to the landmark score. It is also the southpaw's fourth ton against Zimbabwe.

After a superb 88-run opening stand with Liton Das, Tamim starred in another crucial 59-run second-wicket stand with Shakib Al Hasan before the premier all-rounder was dismissed in the 26th over. Shakib, coming fresh from a match-winning unbeaten 96 in the second ODI, introduced himself with a massive six over mid-wicket and was looking good till he slashed hard at Luke Jongwe's outside off delivery and edged it back to the wicketkeeper. He had to walk back after a 42-ball 30.    
 

Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal and batsman Liton Das bump their fists. Photo: Twitter

Liton, Tamim give Tigers a solid start

In chase of a stiff 299-run target set by Zimbabwe, openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das gave Bangladesh a solid start in the third and final ODI at the Harare Sports Club today. 

Skipper Tamim scored his 52nd ODI fifty and his first in the series when he reached the landmark score in 46 deliveries. Although Tamim remained unbeaten on 55, Liton perished after a 37-ball 32 when he top-edged a sweep shot to the fielder at backward square leg in the 14th over. That dismissal ended a promising 88-run opening stand between the duo.  

Bangladesh moved on to 102 for one after 17 overs in response to Zimbabwe's score of 298. 

Both Tamim and Liton got off to an impressive start, bringing up the team fifty in eight overs and scoring above six an over. However, what was more impressive is how the duo picked their shots and paced their innings according to the demand of the stiff run chase. 

Bangladesh's top order crumbled in the first two ODIs, mostly due to batters throwing away their wickets away by playing unnecessary shots. However, the likes of Tamim and Liton seemed to have done their homework for today's game as they portrayed maturity even in their aggression, at least till Liton mistimed a sweep that cost him his wicket.

In a batting-friendly Harare pitch, the duo struck a total of seven fours and two maximums between them, and all of those boundaries came off the loose deliveries given away by Zimbabwe's pace quartet of Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe and Donald Tiripano.