Tamim slams 130 in UCB-BCB XI win

Tamim Iqbal slammed his maiden T20 hundred, an innings which helped UCB-BCB XI to a place in the final. The 29-run win against Mohammedan Sporting Club decided the virtual semifinal, after both teams were locked on three wins each in the tournament.

Batting first, UCB-BCB piled up 217 for 4, with Tamim making 130 off 64 balls. He started off the innings with two consecutive boundaries off Mashrafe Mortaza. In the 12th over, he hit two sixes and a four off Dewan Sabbir, which got him to the half-century. An over later, he smacked 20 runs, including a six and three consecutive fours off Mashrafe.

His first fifty came off 35 balls, and the second came in the next 17 balls, as he completed the hundred in the 15th over with a boundary off Alauddin Babu. Tamim struck 16 boundaries and four sixes to finally score a T20 hundred. During the innings, he added 137 runs for the second wicket with Mithun Ali, who made 41 off 27 balls.

Jahurul Islam led the counter-attack for Mohammedan Sporting Club in their reply, making 80 off just 31 balls with seven boundaries and six sixes. By the time he got out, Mohammedan were 118 for 1 in the ninth over. But his exit triggered a collapse, and they never recovered. They were finally bowled out for 188 runs in 18.4 overs, with Muktar Ali taking three wickets.

UCB-BCB XI will take on Prime Bank Cricket Club in the final, after they beat Abahani Limited by 16 runs.

Batting first, Prime Bank made 175 for 6, with Anamul Haque scoring 69. He struck five fours and three sixes in his 43-ball innings. He added 62 runs for the third wicket with Sabbir Rahman, taking Prime Bank to a strong position.

In reply, Abahani lost early wickets and kept on losing wickets as the chase wore on. Nazmul Hossain Milon was unbeaten on 46 off 38 balls, but it was not enough as Abahani were confined to 159 for 5.

The final will be held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.