Firebirds fly with Tamim's 74

Opener Tamim Iqbal blasted 74 off 47 deliveries as his team Wellington Firebirds churned up a 57-run victory over the hosts Canterbury Wizards in New Zealand's domestic T20 fiesta, the HRV Cup 2012-13, in front of a full house at the Mainpower Oval, Rangiora Sunday, reports UNB. Tamim Iqbal with another left hander Jesse Ryder set up a strong platform for the Firebirds in the opening stand of 71 runs in just 7.1 overs, after being asked to bat first by the Canterbury Wizards' skipper Tom Latham. Jesse Ryder triggered the early charge, pumping boundaries from the beginning and racing to 37 off 24 balls. But after spinner Ronnie Hira pocketed Ryder in with his first ball of the day, it was dasher Tamim who led an army with Ben Orton (37*) followed by Michael Papps (32*) towards the end, as Wellington cruised to 190 for 2 in 20 overs. Tamim, starting his innings a bit cautiously, smacked two consecutive sixes off Ronnie Hira's third over to go past his 50 off 35 balls (4 x 4, 3 x 6). And then he scored his next 27 runs off 11 balls. Tamim smote eight boundaries and three over-boundaries in total before left-arm slow Ronnie Hira got a little revenge in his last (4th) over, when Rob Nicol snaffled the catch to stop the Bangladeshi blaster. Hira took the two wickets that fell for 32 runs.