Iqbal-Kayes’ unbeaten 273-run record stand take Bangladesh to safe position against Pakistan
Wally Edwards
Khulna: Openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes hit unbeaten centuries to lead a brilliant fightback by Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan in Khulna yesterday.
Tamim Iqbal celebrates his century against Pakistan at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday. PICS/AFP
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The left-handed pair put on their nation’s highest partnership for any wicket as Bangladesh, trailing by 296 runs on the first innings, closed the day strongly at 273-0 in their second knock. Tamim was unbeaten on 138 to become the first Bangladesh batsman to score seven Test centuries. It was Tamim’s third century in as many Tests, having made identical scores of 109 in the last two matches against Zimbabwe.
Imrul Kayes in full flight against Pakistan yesterday
Imrul scored 132 not out, his third hundred, as the bowlers toiled on the placid wicket at the Sheikh Abu Naser stadium that has already produced 1,233 runs and just 20 wickets over the four days.
The pair batted through just over two sessions to surpass the previous Bangladesh record of 267 by Ashraful and current skipper Mushfiqur Rahim for the fifth wicket against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2013.
Tamim dedicated his third successive Test century to his aunt, Fatema Hossain, who died of a heart attack in Chittagong on Thursday.
Tamim and Imrul had put on an opening stand of 224 during Bangladesh’s previous Test, against Zimbabwe. Fears that Bangladesh may struggle to bat out two days to save the match, after Pakistan ran up 628 in their first innings, proved unfounded as the openers settled in to tame the bowling.
Brief scores
Bangladesh: 332 & 273-0 (T Iqbal 138*, I Kayes 132*) trail Pakistan: 628 (M Hafeez 224; T Islam 6-163) by 23 runs
Live today
Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Day 5 of first Test: Star Sports 1, 09:30
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