Published: Jul 16, 2015, 07:14 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 16, 2015, 06:30 PM (IST)
Bangladesh completed a dream season when they beat South Africa 2-1 in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series. The win was special for them considering they were 0-1 down in the series; they have never beaten any top side after losing the first ODI of the series said the commentator. They were under pressure to back the impressive series wins against Pakistan and India. Coming on the back of low scores, Tamim Iqbal came back hard to score a fine and basked in yet another moment of glory but by playing as a mature, senior than the carefree batsman at the crease observes Nikhil Popat. ALSO READ: Mashrafe Mortaza requests Bangladesh Prime Minister for national holiday following historic victory
South Africa had won the first game, Kagiso Rabada had blown Bangladesh with his spell of six for 16, the best figures for any bowler on his One-Day International (ODI) debut. Bangladesh though came back well in the second game, bowled superbly as a team to keep South Africa in check and then chased it down on a canter to level the series and keep them in the game. In the third ODI, Bangladesh again put South Africa under pressure having them four down for a score of just 50 runs on board. It was David Miller (44) and JP Duminy (51) who brought some respect to South Africa’s total. Bangladesh needed a hero and they found one to in the form of Tamim Iqbal.
Iqbal has a love for the big stages, he was the part of the team which beat India in 2007, he hit twin tons on Bangladesh’s tour to England, he was amongst the runs when Bangladesh beat Pakistan 3-0. He started off very slowly, watching off the new ball from Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada. He looked good in defence and it is a sign of things working for some batsmen when they defend well. READ: Dominant Bangladesh thrash South Africa by 9 wickets, win series 2-1
Sarkar was going hammer and tongs at the other end but that did not lure Tamim into playing the big, glory shots, he waited for the bad balls, rotated the strike. He was not in good form coming into the game. He had scores of 13, 5, 0 and 5 coming into this game. He was under pressure to perform and this was the chance for him, in a chase of 170, to get some runs under his belt. He is no longer a budding youngster and had to take the responsibility of seeing his team through and he did just that.
Tamim was not going after every ball, you could sense he wanted to bat, bat and bat. Tamim got in, then he got the first ball that he though he should go after, he got a back of a length ball outside off, he played inside the line, got it down to third man in a flurry for a boundary. He just kissed the ball then. A normal, out-of-form Tamim would try to hit the next one out of the ground but this one was a mature one and was happy to give himself time. He got one more chance in the next over and he shuffled across, clipped one to perfection to the wide mid on region.
Spinners were tying them down, Sarkar was struggling to find the gaps at will now, Tamim stepped up, he first came down to hit one over mid on for a boundary. After a couple of dots, Tamim hit one through wide mid off for a boundary. This time, Tamim showed his class as he slinked down the wicket, gave himself room and spanked one through covers which must have reminded South Africa of their place in the series.
He was happy to play second fiddle to Sarkar, this is not the Tamim we know, but over the years, he has matured from being a basher, hard hitter of the ball to one who plays his game but also the situation and do best possible for his team. There was a moment where Sarkar played an upper cut to a quick bouncer from Kyle Abbott, more than Sarkar it was Tamim who was delighted with the shot, he must have reminded him of his younger days in cricket, he went across, gave Sarkar a good pump fist, and patted Sarkar on the pads with his bat.
He brought up his fifty with a late dab to third man to bring up his 31st ODI fifty, he has been the best player for Bangladesh under pressure and once again on a big day, Tamim Iqbal stepped up for Bangladesh. Sarkar missed out on his ton, but by then they had added 154 runs already. Once Sarkar got out, Tamim in the very next over, hit a couple of boundaries to keep the intent going from Bangladesh as they romped home by nine wickets to win their first ever ODI series against South Africa.
While Bangladesh will be tested when they tour away and it will test them the most but for now, to comeback from being 1-0 down in the series, winning the 2nd ODI to secure their place in ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and then winning the series against South Africa, Bangladesh deserve all the accolades for having a dominant home season.
(Nikhil Popat is a cricket lover and a PotterHead. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)
