Tamim, Imrul rewrite records to set Bangladesh for huge score

A record double-century opening partnership between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes has set Bangladesh on course for a huge first innings score in the third Test against Zimbabwe.

The hosts were 303 for 2 at the close of Day One with at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday. Mominul Haque (46 not out) and Mahmudullah (5 not out) were at the crease.

Tamim and Kayes dominated a wayward and mostly impotent Zimbabwe bowling attack after the hosts opted to bat.

Kayes, who is back in the side in place of Shamsur Rahman, looked in good touch from at the start while Tamim was back in his true colours to make sure a Bangladeshi opening pair batted the first two sessions of a Test for the first time.

Kayes was dropped at square leg on 19 off Natsai M’shangwe.

The pair made 91 runs in the first session and piled 122 in the second. Both the openers reached centuries in the second session.

Tamim reached his sixth Test century off 150 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and a six, while the other left-handed opener reached his second ton off 191 deliveries.

Tamim and Kayes recorded the first instance of both openers scoring tons for the country in the same match.

The hosts went into tea break on 213 for no loss.

Sikandar Raza spun in the break to send Tamim (109) back, but only after the left hander signed up beside Mohammad Ashraful with the highest number of centuries for Bangladesh.

The 224-run stand is the Tigers’ first double century opening partnership. Their previous highest score was also achieved by the same pair who made 185 against England at Lord’s in 2010.

This double-hundred stand was Bangladesh’s fourth overall.

Kayes soon joined Tamim after adding another 48 to the total with Mominul Haque for the second wicket.

The opener struck 12 boundaries and two sixes for his 130 off 257 balls before falling to Hamilton Masakadza.

Bangladesh opted to bat with two changes in the team. Pacer Shafiul Islam replaced Shahadat Hossain.

Zimbabwe made fielded two changes with Richmond Mutumbami and Shingi Masakadza coming in for Malcolm Waller and Tendai Chatara.

Bangladesh have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Brief score:

Bangladesh: 303/2 (Tamim 109, Imrul 130, Mominul 46 (not out), Mahmudullah (5 not out); Hamilton 1/3, Raza 1/74