CHITTAGONG: Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes smashed centuries in a record opening stand for Bangladesh to put the hosts on top at the start of the third and final Test here on Wednesday.

Tamim scored 109 and Imrul made a patient career-best 130 as Bangladesh, hoping to sweep the series 3-0, cruised to 303-2 in their first innings at stumps on the opening day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

The duo put Bangladesh’s highest opening partnership at 224, surpassing their own record of 185 against England at Lord’s in 2010. It was only the fifth century stand by a Bangladeshi opening pair, with Tamim and Imrul both featuring in three of them. It was the first time Bangladesh openers have made centuries in the same Test.

They prospered in the first two sessions before Zimbabwe broke through after tea when Tamim miscued a shot off Sikandar. Hamilton Masakadza flung to his left at long-on to hold a brilliant catch.

Masakadza himself removed Imrul later as the batsman slashed a catch to substitute fielder Vusi Sibanda at gully.

At stumps, Mominul Haque was unbeaten on 46 and Mohammad Mahmudullah was on five with Bangladesh set to build a huge first innings total.

Bangladesh had posted a tense three-wicket win in the first Test in Dhaka, before routing the tourists by 162 runs in the second match in Khulna last week.

Left-handed Tamim, who hit the slowest-ever century for Bangladesh in the last Test, hit 14 boundaries and a six in his second consecutive century after making 109 at Khulna. This time he needed just 150 balls to reach triple figures and drew level with former captain Mohammad Ashraful’s record tally of six centuries for Bangladesh.

It was the second time that Tamim has posted back-to-back Test centuries following successive hundreds against England in 2010 at Lord’s and Old Trafford. It was also Tamim’s first international century at his Chittagong home ground.

“I have come close a few times in ODIs and Tests,” he said. “To be able to do it finally is a great feeling. If I get another chance, I will definitely try to score another century. I celebrated more because it was my home ground. I don’t think they [relatives] came to the ground, but I am sure they prayed for me.”

Imrul, who replaced Shamsur Rahman for this match, began with a boundary off the first ball he faced and finished with 12 fours and two sixes in his second Test century.

Unlike Tamim, Imrul’s innings was not chanceless. He was dropped on 15, 41 and 98 on the way to his second Test century in his 19th Test. He hit nine boundaries and cleared the rope twice en route to his century off 191 balls.

Scoreboard BANGLADESH (1st Innings):

Tamim Iqbal c H. Masakadza b Sikandar 109 Imrul Kayes c sub b H. Masakadza 130 Mominul Haque not out 46 Mohammad Mahmudullah not out 5

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-5, W-6) 13

TOTAL (for two wkts, 90 overs) 303

FALL OF WKTS: 1-224, 2-272.

TO BAT: Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Jubair Hossain.

BOWLING (to-date): Panyangara 14-1-46-0; Chigumbura 10-3-29-0 (4w); S.W. Masakadza 15-3-50-0 (2w); Mushangwe 25-3-85-0’ Sikandar Raza 21-0-74-1; Chari 2-0-9-0; H. Masakadza 3-1-3-1.

ZIMBABWE: Sikandar Raza, B. Chari, H. Masakadza, B.R.M. Taylor, R.W. Chakabva, E. Chigumbura, C.R. Ervine, R. Mutumbami, S.W. Masakadza, N. Mushangwe, T. Panyangara.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and C.K. Gaffaney (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2014