Tamim blitzkrieg gives Bangladesh a strong start

Tamim Iqbal (79 not out) hit a quick-fire unbeaten half-century as Bangladesh made a strong start to their second innings after conceding a 311-run lead to India on the third day of the second and final cricket Test here today.

At tea break, Bangladesh were 118 for one, scoring at a brisk rate though still needing another 193 runs to make India bat again. Tamim was batting on 79 from 87 balls with the help of 10 fours and a six, and giving him company was Junaid Siddique on 31.

Pacer Zaheer Khan struck in the fifth over of the post-lunch session removing struggling opener Imrul Kayes (5). Kayes checked his drive at the last minute to a short of length delivery outside off side only to pop towards substitute fielder Dinesh Karthik who dived forward to take the catch at the cover.

But after that it was a toil for the Indian bowlers with Tamim and Siddique remaining unseparated till the break with an unfinished second-wicket stand of 99 runs from 24.1 overs. With wicket deteriorating, India pressed two spinners from both the ends but without success. Harbhajan Singh, who bowled two overs before lunch, was still unsuccessful after seven overs which cost him 35 runs. Tamim hit him for a four and a six off consecutive balls. Pragyan Ojha was also without wicket from his eight overs, conceding 23 runs.