Tamim, Shakib rise again for Bangladesh in hour of need

The poster boys of Bangladesh cricket, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan yet again played memorable knocks, and under pressure, during the hour of need for their country. These two players produced many brilliant moments for the Tigers across all three formats and once again, their experience were required when Bangladesh faced an early hiccup in the first half an hour of play during day one of their first Test against Australia. It was a horrible start for the Bangladesh top-order. The home side lost three quick wickets within the first four overs. Aussie pacer Pat Cummins was bowling a fiery spell, ripping through the Tigers top-order. Left-handers Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes and right-handed batsman Sabbir Rahman surrendered abruptly and Bangladesh were hobbling. The host needed two of their most experienced players to come out and rescue them and that is exactly what happened.

@Sah75official scored his 22nd half-century in Test.#BANvAUSTo follow Live Score: https://t.co/JKFazqECUn pic.twitter.com/zLx3EbWscb

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) August 27, 2017

Tamim and Shakib took charge and eased the pressure that was created in the morning by the Australian bowling attack. The Tigers collapsed from such situation many times in Test history but the way these senior batsmen took authority and controled the opposition was really refreshing to see. Such matured batting amid a difficult situation poses glimpse of hope for the future and also indicates that Bangladesh are improving in the longest format, which is also the toughest. Before the series started, Tamim said quite a few times that Bangladesh have to win crucial duels during the tense moments of the game. And when Bangladesh were wobbling on 10 runs for three wickets in four overs, the Tamim-Shakib pair definitely won a small battle against the charged up and confident Aussie opening bowling duo Josh Hazlewood and Cummins. Tamim and Shakib formed a 155-run partnership for the fourth wicket, thus laying a good platform for the rest of the batting line-up.

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Also read: Bangladesh fight back with early strikes after posting 260 against Australia

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That partnership proved vital in the context of the match as Bangladesh could easily have lost their way in the very first day of the Test, and that would have set the tone for the remainder of the series as well. Eventually, Tamim got out after scoring 71 while Shakib was dismissed for 84. Those two should have carried their innings further after being well set but both of them failed to convert their innings into a big hundred. During their 50-Test journey, Shakib and Tamim were unable to convert a promising innings into a century quite a few times. Shakib got out 10 times between 80-99 during his 93 Test innings while Tamim was dismissed the same number of times between 70-99 in his 95 innings.

Only the 5th time Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan are batting together in Test Cricket. First time since 2014 (v Zimbabwe, Khulna). #BANvAUS— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) August 27, 2017

Much was said prior to the series regarding the potential threat of off-spinner Nathan Lyon but Tamim made merry off his bowling and played aggressively. The southpaw smashed three sixes and one four against Lyon and did not let him settle in the first session. The partnership between these two was good to see as both the senior players showed their maturity and experience during a difficult time. But one of them at least, or both, should have carried their innings, which the world-class players usually do when they get well set in the middle. With that said, overall, composed and measured knocks from Tamim and Shakib can well and truly turn the match in favour of the home side. So will it prove to be a match-saving partnership? Only time will tell.