|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal said on Sunday that he will keep his maiden triple hundred very close to his heart but added that he never thought it would be so soon.
Tamim’s 334 not out, the second triple ton by a Bangladeshi batsman in the first class cricket, helped East Zone to declare their first innings on 555-2.
At stumps, Central Zone reached 115-3, still trailing by 227 runs to make East Zone batting for the second time. Central Zone earlier was bowled out for 213 in its first innings.
East Zone however made a mockery with Central Zone bowlers on day three too, with Tamim who began the day on 222, completed his triple century off 407 balls.
It was his first triple ton, surpassing his previous best 206 which he made against Pakistan in a Test match in 2015.
He then quickly went past Roqibul Hassan’s 313 to become the highest individual scorer for Bangladesh in first class cricket. Roqibul earned the feat in 2007 during a National Cricket League (NCL) game for Barishal against Sylhet.
In his marathon 426 balls knock, Tamim smashed 42 fours and three sixes for his 334 not out—a famous number that etched in cricketing folklore due to be the highest Test score for all time great Sir Don Bradman.
‘’It is very special and it will have a special place in my heart for sure,’’ Tamim told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
‘‘Scoring 300 against any opponent and at any level- it is difficult because if it was easy than you would see it every month,’’ he said.
‘’I never thought that I would score a triple hundred. Everyone dreams definitely but I never thought it would come in this match. The most important thing for me was how I batted, more than how much runs I made. The most pleasing thing was how I batted. Happy but I hope that I can continue the same form,’’ he said.
.