Tamim second Bangladeshi to reach 5K runs in Tests

Left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal became the second Bangladeshi batter to reach the 5000-run landmark in Tests on the opening day of their first Test against West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua today. 

Tamim, playing his 68th Test, was 19 runs shy off the feat before the start of the series and the 33-year-old reached it when he flicked a Kemar Roach delivery through the midwicket to take three runs. 

Tamim, however, could have been the first Bangladeshi batter to achieve the feat during the Tigers' first Test against Sri Lanka in Chattogram last month. But unfortunately, after suffering a cramp, Tamim had to retire hurt on 133 off 217 deliveries in their first innings in that game. With Tamim unable to continue batting after the tea break on Day 3, Mushfiqur Rahim was able to reach the feat early.

Coming back to today's action, Tamim, unlike his opening partner Mahmudul Hasan Joy and top-order batters Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque, looked confident out in the middle against the West Indies. None of Joy, Mominul or Shanto were able to open their accounts as the Tigers were reduced to three for 16 inside 5.1 overs. 

Tamim, however, played fluently as he smashed three boundaries so far. He remains unbeaten on 19.