Tamim Iqbal delighted at his match-winning unbeaten hundred against Pakistan

A match-winning century remaining unconquered against Pakistan has added an extra topping for Tamim Iqbal.

Bangladesh cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Pakistan riding on Tamim’s run-a-ball 116 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.

The left-handed opener’s second unbeaten ODI innings propelled the Tigers to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series - their first-ever against Pakistan.

Tamim scored a 135-ball 132 in the first match on Friday that the hosts won by 79 runs and registered their first win against Pakistan since the 1999 World Cup.

The last time he remained unbeaten was against the West Indies in Chittagong in 2011, where he made 36. The Tigers won the match by eight wickets chasing a paltry 62.

“I was unbeaten again after my 36 against West Indies. I feel delighted to have remained unbeaten after scoring a century for the first time,” Tamim said at the post-match press conference.

Tamim also became the third Bangladesh batsman to score two successive centuries after Shahriar Nafees and Mahmudullah.

Under huge pressure for not being among runs for some time, he rated the century in the first match higher.

Tamim was in a murderous mood on Sunday, racing to his fifty off just 31 balls.

He came to think of a hundred after reaching 80. Mushfiqur Rahim, who paired with him for a superb 118-run stand, reminded him several times of the hundred, said Tamim.

A series win against Pakistan is undoubtedly historic. Tamim lauded youngsters like Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman and Nasir Hossain despite their not playing too big a role so far.

“They are the future of Bangladesh. They always play for the team. I’ve never seen them bat for themselves. They’ve just started - support them.”