Tamim Iqbal becomes first Bangladesh batsman to score 7000 ODI runs

On Tuesday, the opener hit his first one-day hundred in more than 18 months, while his 158 against Zimbabwe is his highest ODI score.

Tamim Iqbal reacts after reaching his century against Zimbabwe.

Veteran Tamim Iqbal became the first Bangladesh batsman to score 7000 ODI runs, after he roared back to form with a crackling 158 against Zimbabwe during the second One-Day International here on Tuesday.

The host rode on his heroics to post 322/8 in 50 overs after electing to bat first. Tamim, who played his first ODI in nine months in the first match, had taken a break from cricket in the second half of 2019.

The highest Tamim had scored in his previous seven ODI innings was just 36, but on Tuesday he looked back to his best as he took 136 deliveries to get to 158 with the help of 20 fours and three sixes.

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The 30-year-old has been Bangladesh’s leading run-getter in one-dayers and this feat adds another feather to his cap.

Tamim has looked in fine touch with the bat in 2020. Playing T20Is after over a year, he posted scores of 39 and 65 against Pakistan in January. He followed it by blasting an unbeaten 334 in a first-class game, the best score by a Bangladesh batsman in the format.

Tamim has scored the most centuries by a Bangladesh batsman in ODIs but failed to hit the three-figure mark since July 2018 before ending the drought on Tuesday.