'Happy to spend time at the crease'

Tamim Iqbal had a target of spending some time at the crease and he was happy that he could achieve that on the opening day of the two-day practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI at the De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa yesterday.

It would be unfair to say that Tamim returned to form after making a hundred against Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI. While it is true that he has only one half-century in the two Tests against New Zealand and one against India, the southpaw opener contributed heavily in trying conditions in the preceding series -- the two-match Test series against England at home in October last year when he not only scored a hundred but also essayed a classy 78 in the first Test at Chittagong.

Still, a century in a tour opener provided enough confidence to the batsman.  Tamim scored 136 off 182 with nine fours and seven sixes but more than the score it was the time he spent at the crease that gave him pleasure ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

“It was an important century for me ahead of the two-match Test series. It's always good if you score some runs prior to a new series. My target was to spend a good amount of time in the middle and I could manage it. I am happy that I could bat at least 50 to 60 overs,” Tamim told the Daily Star over phone yesterday.

“I tried to score some runs and I was successful. That's it,” he added.

“Initially it was a bit difficult but all through I enjoyed my batting as the wicket was good to bat on. It's always better to score runs in a match rather than practice, no matter against whom you are playing or what the conditions are,” he said.

Tamim was also happy that other batsmen got runs ahead of the two-match Test series which will kick off from March 7 at the Galle International Stadium.

“It's good that everybody scored some runs ahead of the series and it's good practice for us,” he observed.