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Matured Tamim Mominul put Tigers on track

BISHWAJIT ROY
It was a day that reignited hopes of Bangladesh's Test prospects, made more special by the fact that it started with murmurs all around that the Tigers would be rolled over and the Test would not even make it into the fifth day. That attitude was further entrenched by the loss of two quick wickets in the second innings but the Tigers arrested the slide so emphatically that by the end of the day it was Bangladesh who were on top with a 114-run lead and seven wickets still standing.
The architects of this pleasantly surprising turnaround were Mominul Haque and Tamim Iqbal. The two southpaw batsmen exhibited the ideal approach to longer-version batting. That they achieved the highest third-wicket partnership for Bangladesh was just a by-product of the purpose and temperament they displayed. The diminutive Mominul, who hit his second Test hundred in as many matches after making 181 in Chittagong, remained unbeaten and the rosiest words should be reserved to praise him in the coming days but it was his senior partner who offered the happier surprise. So the spotlight was trained firmly on the lefthanded opener with former national cricketer-tumed-selector and commentator Athar Ali Khan saying: “I have never seen Tamim play such a sheetanchor role. It's really a pleasant surprise. ”
Tamim, who has earned the tag of a dashing opener for his aggressive batting, once again failed to end his long century drought as his doughty and purposeful innings ended on 70. But that did not take away from the impression that the 70 should be placed, if not at the highest, then at a very exalted place in his batting portfolio. To just say that it was his most restrained half-century, as he played 218 balls and struck only four boundaries during his five-hour stay, would not do the innings justice. It was an innings born of the recognition that he was batting on a pitch, even on the fourth day, where if he did not make a mistake he would be able to keep batting. That was the challenge for the Bangladesh batsmen as they had earlier faltered in this respect in the first innings when they were found wanting for patience and Test-match temperament.
Fortunately they took the lessons from their first innings errors. Tamim especially set the tone of the innings. Youngsters Anamul Haque and Marhsall Ayub fell to soft dismissals against pacer Neil Wagner to create momentary panic but Tamim's steely intent put worries at rest. He was not even tempted by his young partner's stroke-play. Like in the first innings Wagner tried him with short balls but this time Tamim ducked all those and also kept his cool while the bowlers delivered some verbals to test his nerve. The effect of a determined and
focused Tamim was plainly demonstrated yesterday, as it lifted his team by example and also put his opponents under pressure. While his fifty came through a chancy third man boundary and he might regret the shot which ended his innings, Tamim deserves high praise forbringinghis side to a position to save theTest as well as the series.
Mominul meanwhile once again proved how one can greatly contribute to the side silently but effectively. The left-hander -- though scoring at a faster rate than his senior - was also judicious in the balls he punished. It was fantastic to see the young man overcome the pressure to go from 99 to only his second Test century. With a lovely flick off the pads through wide mid-on Mominul reached 99 but New Zealand skipper packed the off side to make the next step frustratingly difficult; the young man however was equal to the task, revealing a maturity beyond his years.
Starting the second innings with a 155-run deficit, after New Zealand lost their remaining two wickets in quick succession in the morning, Bangladesh finished the day at 269 for three; a great scenario indeed for the home side.
Shakib Al Hasan played some aggressive shots near the end, but with Mominul he needs to continue the example set by Tamim today so that the home team can bat as long as possible, at least till an hour after tea, to earn the likely but honourable result: a draw.