Tamim, Shakib add more feathers to their already decorated hats

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal registered his 40th ODI fifty and notched up yet another milestone by going past the 11,000-run mark in international cricket. The in-form dashing opener struck 84 runs against Sri Lanka Friday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka to aid the Tigers post a defendable 320 on the board. Tamim was however, unlucky as he missed out on his 10th ODI century. All-rounder Shakib al Hasan also reached the milestone of scoring 10,000 international runs, adding 67 to Bangladesh’s tally.

. @Sah75official becomes the second Bangladeshi batsman to score 10000 runs in three formats together. pic.twitter.com/xHismWGb5r

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) January 19, 2018

In his 176 ODIs, Tamim has scored 5,934 runs with nine centuries, 3,886 runs in Test matches at an average of 39.25 and 1,257 runs in T20Is to reach the 11,000 international runs mark. The 29-year-old Tamim is currently leading the list of the highest Bangladesh run-scorer in both ODI and Test. Shakib in 96 Test innings has scored 3,594 runs, 5,184 in 172 innings in ODIs and 1,223 runs in 61 T20Is to bag 10,000 international runs. Tamim against Sri Lanka was flawless as the Bangladesh batsman struck his second consecutive half century in the tri-nation ODI series. However, the Chittagong lad was unfortunate to depart as he got the slightest of nicks while trying to push right-arm spinner Akila Dananjaya forward. Tamim lost his balance in the face of the looping delivery, the ball nicked the bat and rested into the gloves of wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella. The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper asked for the review and duly won it, signaling the long walk back to the dressing room for Tamim.

. @TamimOfficial28 becomes the first Bangladeshi batsman to score 11000 runs in three formats together. pic.twitter.com/lhowU2Dg0V

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) January 19, 2018

Shakib on the other hand struck a 63-ball 67 backed by seven boundaries. The left-handed batsman was sent back to the dressing room by right-arm medium pacer Asela Gunaratne, who took a return catch. Tamim-Shakib’s partnership of 99 off 86 balls for the second wicket allowed Bangladesh to march to a strong total. The Sri Lankan bowlers toiled against the two best willow wielders of Bangladesh, but only in vain more often than not.