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Tigers’ historic series win over Pakistan

32Bangladesh seal 7-wicket victory in second ODI

Opener Tamim Iqbal led Bangladesh in an admirable fashion, hitting his second consecutive century that steered the hosts to an impressive seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second ODI at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The swashbuckling opener struck a run-a-ball 116 not out as Bangladesh gunned down the target of 240 with 71 balls to spare, showing their outright command over the Pakistan side.
It took Bangladesh 16 years to seal their second victory over Pakistan but the third win came within the gap of a single day.
Tamim stitched two significant partnerships on the way to the victory – 78 with Mahmudullah Ryad (17) and 118 with Mushfiqur Rahim, the centurion of the previous match.
Rahim scored 65 off 70, hitting eight fours and one six and helped the side edged closer to victory in an effortless fashion. Tamim clobbered 17 fours and one six and remained not out for the second time in his 143-match career. The marauding batsman who followed up his 132 in the first match with yet another century, blitzed right from the start in a pitch that appeared to have slowed down with Pakistani batsmen struggling to play their shots.
Fast bowler Junaid Khan gave Pakistan early breakthrough dismissing Soumya Sarkar on 17 but Tamim kept hitting, denying the visitors any chance of ruling the game. He brought up his fifty off just 31 balls but as the time passed he became slower in order to resist further fall of wickets.
Tamim was firstly aided by Mahmudullah (17) to set the tune before the latter was dismissed by Saeed Ajmal (1/49) to give him the first international wicket since his return to the national team after remodeling his bowling action.
Mushfiqur Rahim joined Tamim Iqbal to pace the innings further, making the Pakistan bowler frustrated who failed to help their cause by sending down the deliveries on leg-stump repeatedly. Boundaries came in almost every over that helped Bangladesh preventing Pakistan from getting back to the game.
Tamim with the alliance of Shakib Al Hasan completed the inevitable and gave the side an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Earlier, Saad Nasim and Wahab Riaz both struck half centuries to lift Pakistan to a fighting total from a precarious 77 for 5.  Nasim made 77 not out, hitting six fours and one six, while Riaz was undefeated on 51 with five fours and two sixes.
Shakib Al Hasan retained figures of 2/51 while Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza picked up one wicket apiece.
After losing the toss earlier in the day, Bangladesh dominated the game claiming two early wickets which included Mohammad Hafeez, the only experienced batsman in Pakistan’s team, for a duck. The Bangladeshi
spinners played a vital role on the slow-paced wicket with Shakib, Nasir Hossain and Arafat Sunny sharing four of the first five wickets after Rubel Hossain made the breakthrough in his first ball, taking out Sarfraz Ahmed (7).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, an avid sports fan, watched the second half of the match and cheered the Tigers till the series winning shot played by Shakib Al Hasan.
The moment Shakib hit the stroke, the premier started waving the national flag to the cheering fans.
She looked cheerful in particular when Tamim Iqbal slammed his lone six on way to Bangladesh’s thumping win over Pakistan.
Later she extended her heartfelt greetings to the cricket team for winning their maiden ODI series against Pakistan.
President Abdul Hamid also congratulated Bangladesh Cricket Team on their ODI series victory against Pakistan.
In a message, the president congratulated the team players, coach, manager, and BCB officials for this victory.