Tigers thrive on Tamim’s 10th ton

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal looks to the heavens upon reaching his 10th Test century, which helped the hosts reach 318 for three at the end of the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

Tamim Iqbal's 10th Test century gave Bangladesh a brilliant platform to take a first-innings lead over Sri Lanka as the Tigers trail by 79 runs with a score of 318 for three at the end of the third day of the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.

It was a day of collective approach from the Tigers' batting department and hosts will be hoping to take control of the game when the two overnight batters -- Mushfiqur Rahim (53 not out) and Liton Das (54 not out) resume the fourth day.

It was, however, Tamim who stole the show at his hometown with a well-deserved hundred. The southpaw eventually retired hurt after suffering from cramps having scored 133 off 277 balls, the innings featuring 15 boundaries.

Tamim, alongside young Mahmudul Hasan Joy, started from where they had left off on the second day as the pair went on to register the eighth hundred-pus opening stand for Bangladesh in Test cricket.

The Tamim-Joy pair dominated the first session and went for Lunch adding 81 runs in 28 overs. The visitors made a comeback in the post-Lunch session, picking up three wickets in quick succession. Joy, who struck his second fifty in his fifth Test, was dismissed for 58 off 142 balls as the fourth-best opening stand in Tests for the Tigers ended after 162 runs.

Concussion-replacement Kasun Rajitha removed both Najmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Mominul Haque cheaply before Mushfiqur and Liton steadied the ship and made sure the hosts finished the day on a high.