Bangladesh made a dismal start in the Asia Cup opener against Sri Lanka as they lost two wickets in the first over, before their opening batsman Tamim Iqbal left the field with a fracture.
The injury may rule out the left-handed batsman from the remainder of the tournament but he scribed one of the bravest tales in the history of the game as he came back with the broken hand to help his side.
Tamim had to face just one ball, the last delivery of the 47th over, resuming as the No 11 but his contribution was immense as his bravery allowed wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who single-handedly carried the innings to finish with a belligerent 144-run knock that enabled the Tigers to post a respectable total of 261 on the board.
Mushfiq anchored the innings from one end batting at No 4 but apart from Mohammad Mithun, who made 63 to form a 131-run stand with Mushfiq, none could support him and the Tigers were reduced to 229-9 with the centurion left in the non-striking end.
@BCBtigers cricket team playing in the UAE for the first time since 1995 turned out to be an occasion to celebrate for the massive Bangladesh community in this country.https://t.co/beEGKVj0u2#BCB #TIGERS #BCBTIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKETTEAM
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 15, 2018
Everyone thought the innings was done and dusted but to the utter shock of the opponent, Tamim entered the arena like a wounded gladiator.
Ironically, he had to face seamer Suranga Lakmal, whose rising delivery caused the fatal injury early in the innings, and his one-handed block created an image that will be cherished in the folklore of Bangladesh cricket as perhaps the most valiant tale ever.
But the immediate impact was imminent as Mushfiq’s confidence knew no bounds. He added 32 runs in the next 16 balls before getting out in the last over playing his career-best innings.
Tamim’s heroics were noticed rightaway and social media was flooded with the appreciation of his bravery.
Tamim Iqbal has come out to support Rahim despite a broken hand.
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) September 15, 2018
It takes courage to put the team and the nation ahead of oneself and this is what we truly call #CricketMeriJaan ?
Well done ?? #BANvSL #AsiaCup
Many had even compared it to former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith’s heroics against Australia on the final day of a Test match in 2009 and Malcolm Marshall’s legendary performance in the Headingley Test back in 1984.
Smith with a broken elbow had batted to take South Africa close to a win but he had tailenders on the other end of the wicket while Marshall not only supported his team-mate Larry Gomes reach a ton but later picked up seven wickets in the second innings to help his side win.
Tamim here had a set batsman in the shape of Mushfiq, who played smartly to face most of the balls, take a single off the last over to get Tamim off from facing a delivery and thrash the opposition to boost the total.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbqRy5JeHh0
Malinga rattles Bangladesh top-order
Sri Lanka veteran pacer Lasith Malinga returned to the ODI fold after around a year and was spot on in making an impact.
Bangladesh’s dream of a smooth start in the Asia Cup was shaken after the side went to bat first and saw Malinga remove opener Liton Das and one-down batsman Shakib al Hasan off the fifth and sixth ball of the innings.
Malinga returned in the next over and was denied a hat-trick by Mushfiq.
But the slingy-action bowler proved as the destroyer as he came back in a later spell to wreck havoc and pick up another two wickets before finishing his quota of 10 overs with astonishing figure of 4/23.
