|| CF Correspondent ||

There was no Tamim Iqbal like celebration apart from giving an impression that suggested he was relieved man by ending his run-draught with an excellent century against Zimbabwe in second ODI at the Sylhet International Stadium on Tuesday.

It was a mile-stone filled day for Tamim as he rewrote the record in the process and in doing so gave the critics a befitting reply after being blamed for his slow approach, smashing career-best 158 off 136 balls decorated with 20 fours and three sixes.

Tamim, who is holding the record of highest individual score in ODI’s, crossed the 150 plus score twice in his career and on both occasions Zimbabweans bowlers had to bear the brunt, making 154 runs when Bangladesh successfully chased Zimbabwe’s 312 to win the game in 2009 at Bulawayo.

Left-handed batsman Tamim had come into the game surrounded with crisis for his approach in limited-over cricket. His strike against the white ball was being discussed widely and a mental block was being considered evident.

Tamim with effort also got to a century for the first time since 2018. Tamim had scored a ton in the format 21 months and 23 innings ago, on tour of West Indies. The 30-year-old was in blazing form in the tour and had scored two centuries and a half century in the three-match ODI series against the Caribbean side.

‘’Tamim is certainly of the best cricketer in our country and it is not beyond expectation to see an innings like this from his bat,’’ Bangladesh Cricket Board chief selector Minhajul Abedin told reporters at Sylhet on Tuesday.

‘’He gave a break in the middle, his innings make me remember him. The people of Sylhet and who have seen this innings closely, we will remember it,’’ he said.