Emon’s blistering 15-ball half-century guides Abahani to emphatic win

Parvez Hossain Emon's record-breaking half-century powered Abahani Limited to a commanding 40-ball victory, chasing down a modest target set by Shinepukur Cricket Club in just 6.4 overs.

This win, with all ten wickets intact, was Abahani's eighth in nine matches, ensuring they remained at the top of the points table. In contrast, Shinepukur, with only one win from the same number of games, languish at the bottom.

Shinepukur's innings was dismissed for a mere 88 runs, largely due to an outstanding bowling performance from Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, who claimed four wickets for just 36 runs. The match was reduced to 31 overs because of a damp outfield at BKSP No. 3, but Shinepukur struggled to last 25.4 overs.

Abahani struck early, with Rakibul Hasan removing Moinul Islam Tanmoy for just two runs. Ripon Mondal then dismissed Anik Sarker for a duck. Mosaddek followed up by dismissing Rahmatullah Ali for 10 runs off 17 balls in the sixth over.

The wickets kept tumbling, with Ryan Rafsan Rahman being run out by Abahani's Nazmul Hossain Shanto at mid-on. Ripon then trapped Farzan Ahmed for a duck, leaving Shinepukur 17 for five.

Mosaddek was in fine form, claiming three wickets in three successive overs. He trapped Shariful Islam (7), Golam Kibria (1), and Minhajul Abedin Sabbir (38) LBW, ending Shinepukur's innings at 88 runs.

Chasing the target, Emon set a new record for the fastest half-century in Bangladesh's List A cricket, reaching 50 in just 15 balls. This broke the previous record of 18 balls, held by Forhad Reza and Habibur Rahman. Emon's blistering knock surpassed all records, including the fastest half-century in any format in Bangladesh cricket, previously held by Shuvagata Hom, who made 50 in just 16 balls during a 2019 T20 match.

On the international stage, Sri Lanka's K. Weeraratne holds the record for the fastest List A half-century, achieving the milestone in just 12 balls in domestic cricket.