Tamim hits ninth Test century

Opener Tamim Iqbal hit his ninth Test century one-man stand for Bangladesh in the first Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday.

The southpaw batsman Tamim, Bangladesh’s most prolific run-scorer, was out midway through the middle session for 126 batted at a run-a-ball pace and smashed 21 boundaries and a over boundary as he feasted on a diet of short pitched deliveries.

Tamim punished the barrage of wide deliveries, putting on 57 in even time with Shadman Islam at the top of the innings and then adding 64 with Mominul Haque for the second.

The 29-year old Tamim stretching his innings freely until a rare rash stroke saw him steer a wide delivery from Colin de Grandhomme straight to Kane Williamson in the gully.

It was a make-good wicket for de Grandhomme who had spilled a simple return catch when Tamim was on 65.

On 93, Tamim had another life when he ducked under a Southee bouncer and the ball hit the toe of the bat before ballooning away from wicketkeeper BJ Watling.