Tamim Iqbal has recorded the highest individual score in first-class cricket by a Bangladeshi when he scored 334 not out for East Zone in a Bangladesh Cricket League match against Central Zone in Mirpur on Sunday, report agencies.
It was the second instance of a Bangladeshi batsman getting to a first-class triple century, after Raqibul Hasan's 313 in March 2007, and also the highest first-class score in the country, topping Kumar Sangakkara's 319 in a Test match in 2014. He got past Sangakkara's mark with a stylish six down the ground off Shuvagata Hom.
Thanks to Tamim's quick innings - he faced 426 balls, and hit 42 fours and three sixes - East Zone declared on 555 for 2 in reply to Central's 213
He didn't spend too long in the 290s, hitting boundaries off Hom and Mustafizur Rahman through the off-side field before picking up a quick single to cross the mark in the second session on the third day. Raqibul was incidentally on the field - in the opposition - when Tamim reached the landmark.
A sparse crowd, which included Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo, selectors and BCB officials came out of their offices to applaud the left-handed Tamim, Bangladesh's highest run-getter in international cricket.
Tamim began the third morning on 222, before putting together a big partnership with Yasir Ali for the third wicket, before going to to lunch on 279. He faced 407 balls and hit 40 boundaries to reach the figure.
The opening batsman has been batting since the first evening of this four-day game, having put on partnerships worth 62 with opening partner Pinak Ghosh and 296 with Mominul Haque, who made 111 on the second day.
“It was a great feeling. To be honest, I never thought I would hit a triple ton in this game. The way I batted was important to me. I hope I’ll bat this way in future as well,” Tamim told the media at the end of Sunday’s play.
“The wicket was tough today. But I was confident and firm. I just wanted to keep a positive mindset on and keep playing. I’ve played some big shots after completing 300. Before that, I just kept playing cricketing shots,” he added.
The southpaw said it was one of the much-talked-about affairs in the Bangladesh dressing room that no one could hit a triple ton after Raqibul did it 13 years ago.
“Raqibul was the only batsman to hit a 300-run score in Bangladesh domestic cricket. We always think about how patient he is. He faced more than 600 balls to do it. So, it’s not easy to hit 300 in any form of the game,” Tamim further told the media. The southpaw smashed 42 fours and three sixes in the knock, in which he faced 426 deliveries and spent 585 minutes in the crease.
“When Roqibul scored the first triple century back in 2007, we sometimes used to say, what a patience! Even in the national team dressing room,
Roqibul’s feat was a topic to discuss. We wondered how he is able to spend such huge times in the crease and scored a triple century. In any kind of wicket, in any kind of bowling attack, scoring 300 runs is not easier,” Tamim said after hitting the landmark knock.
“It is always special. It will always be in a special place of my heart. To be honest, I have never imagined of making 300 runs in any level of cricket. Normally our wicket is always slow and spinning and in this wicket, it is not easier to score triple century.”
“It’s special feeling because every batsman dreams to make a triple hundred. But what is important to me is to the way I batted. No matter how many runs I have scored. The pleasing matter was to the way I batted. I will be happy if I keep up this form,” he remarked.
“I think I was determined throughout the inning. The wicket was very good. It was not behaving that badly. I have played just my cricketing shots. I think I could keep the things normal.”
“To be honest when I was on 260 and even in 270, I was not thinking about the feat. When I crossed 280, only then 300-run matter occupied my mind. I was not taking any risk. I was not trying to hit sixes, just I was finding the boundary options. I was trying to pick up singles and doubles when the wicket was not ideal for batting and that was the key,” he added.
