Habibur Smashes Record Fifty as Nahid Concedes 26

Legends of Rupganj batsman Habibur Rahman has equalled the record for the fastest half-century by a Bangladeshi batsman in List A cricket. Playing against Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur during the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), Habibur reached his fifty in just 15 deliveries. This exceptional feat puts him level with Parvez Hossain Emon, who previously held the record alone.

Habibur’s milestone was reached under fortunate circumstances off the bowling of spinner Taijul Islam. He edged a delivery that flew between the slip fielder, Towhid Hridoy, and the wicketkeeper, Anamul Haque. Although Hridoy could potentially have taken the catch with a quicker reaction, the ball raced away to the boundary. This boundary marked the completion of his 15-ball half-century, standing out as the only unstable stroke in an otherwise dominant display of power hitting.

Dismantling the Pace Attack

Before reaching his landmark, Habibur launched a fierce assault on the Mohammedan bowling lineup. He particularly targeted national team paceman Nahid Rana, who was making his first appearance of the current DPL season after a series of impressive performances in international cricket. Entering the attack in the fifth over of the innings, Rana endured a very difficult start to his campaign:

• Ball 1: Habibur lofted the delivery over extra cover for a boundary (4 runs).

• Ball 2: He executed an inside-out shot over cover for a six (6 runs).

• Ball 3: A dot ball provided a brief reprieve for the bowler.

• Ball 4: Habibur struck a powerful six over long-off (6 runs).

• Ball 5: He followed up with another six over the square-leg region (6 runs).

• Ball 6: The over concluded with a lofted shot over wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim towards long-on for a boundary (4 runs).

In total, Habibur extracted 26 runs from Nahid Rana’s single over. This, however, was not the beginning of his onslaught. In an earlier over, Habibur took 25 runs off another prominent national team fast bowler, Taskin Ahmed—who was also playing his first DPL match of the season—hitting him for two boundaries and two sixes.

Historical List A Records in Bangladesh

Habibur’s 15-ball half-century equals the domestic List A record established during the previous DPL season by Parvez Hossain Emon. Playing for Abahani Limited, Emon achieved the feat against Shinepukur Cricket Club. Prior to Emon’s innings, the record had been held for six years by Farhad Reza, who smashed an 18-ball fifty for Prime Doleshwar against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in 2019.

Dismissal and Existing Century Record

Following his record-equalling feat, Habibur was unable to convert his start into a larger score. He was eventually dismissed leg-before-wicket (LBW) by Taibur Rahman. Habibur departed after scoring 59 runs from just 27 deliveries, an aggressive innings that featured six boundaries and five sixes.

Notably, Habibur Rahman already holds the record for the fastest List A century by a Bangladeshi batsman. He achieved that milestone during a Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) One-Day match in Cox’s Bazar, scoring a century in 49 deliveries for the North Zone against the Central Zone. That achievement remains the fastest hundred recorded by a Bangladeshi cricketer in List A history.