Tigers' top order taking shape?

It has just been one match with this particular combination, but Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar's match-winning 131-run second-wicket partnership provided a glimpse into how strong Bangladesh's batting could be if they get their order right, and of course if the players are in form.

That seemed to be the perfect storm the Tigers had tapped into yesterday. Soumya, who is identified as an opener, came in at number three after the fall of Liton Das, who played a shot -- caught at mid on off a slog -- that provides a window into why skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and the team management want to play with three openers.

The search for a suitable partner for Tamim, who is Bangladesh's best batsman and highest run-scorer, is as old as the left-hander's career. From a batsman who took risks to score runs he has evolved into one that can bat long and score runs relatively risk-free like he did yesterday, when all but one of his nine boundaries were hit along the ground during an unbeaten 104-ball 81.

A perfect foil for Tamim would be a batsman who can score fast and allow the senior pro the space to build the innings and guide the team to a big total by batting into the last 10 overs. Since no one batsman -- Imrul Kayes, Liton and Soumya -- has been able to fire on a consistent basis, it seems the best option is to double the odds and give strokemakers like Soumya and Liton the freedom to express themselves.

"Soumya is ideal for No 3, and today he delivered," Mashrafe said after the match.

After Imrul -- despite scoring 349 runs in the previous series against Zimbabwe -- failed twice at number three in the first two ODIs against West Indies, Soumya was moved up the order. Unlike Imrul, Soumya thrives against pace and is unparalleled as a hard-hitter, as he showed in yesterday's ferocious 81-ball 80 that included five sixes and as many fours.

With a solid middle order of Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad to come, the two hitters at the top -- if they are in form and if Liton in particular can learn to structure his innings -- has the makings of the perfect batting order, given Bangladesh's current resources.

The reemergence of Soumya, a special talent who had lost his way after a roaring 2015, is an especially pleasing development for Bangladesh. He had been languishing at number six in the first two ODIs and considering how quickly his confidence can diminish, his promotion seems to have come just in the nick of time.