Opener Parvez Hossain Emon struck a record-breaking century as Bangladesh made an excellent start to the two-match Twenty20 international series against the United Arab Emirates, securing a comprehensive 27-run victory in the opening game at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Emon blasted an exact 54-ball 100, rewriting several records as a Bangladeshi batter, and guided the side to a daunting 191/7.
The total proved to be too hot for UAE to handle despite a blistering start.
After briefly scaring Bangladesh, they were eventually wrapped up for 164 in 20 overs.
Emon single-handedly took the visiting side closer to the 200-run mark after UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem put Bangladesh in to bat first.
The young opener saw the early departures of fellow opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim (10) and skipper Liton Das (11) but that did not distract him from hitting the ball with sheer power and audacity.
Both Tanzid and Liton had a promising start but they simply could not carry it further.
However, Emon never changed his gear until he was out in the last over.
His knock was laced with five fours and nine sixes.
The nine sixes by Emon was the highest by a Bangladeshi, eclipsing Rishad Hossain’s seven against Sri Lanka last year.
As he reached his century off 53 balls in the penultimate over, he became the second Bangladeshi to hit a ton in T20Is after Tamim Iqbal.
Tamim hammered a 63-ball 103 against Oman in the 2016 T20 World Cup and the record stood for nine years, before Emon joined him in the century club.
By raising his century off 53 deliveries, Emon became the fastest centurion of Bangladesh.
He bettered Tamim’s record of being the fastest T20 centurion (in 42 balls).
Emon scored 74 runs in boundaries, which is also a record, going past Tamim’s 70 against Oman.
Just after bringing up his century, he was dismissed by Muhammad Jawadullah in the first ball of the final over.
Jawadullah eventually finished with 4/21.
Emon got a stroke of luck when he was dismissed by Matiullah Khan on 84 but to his delight, the bowler bowled a no ball by overstepping the crease.
The second-best score of Bangladesh came from sundries - 21.
Towhid Hridoy was the other notable scorer with 20.
Despite losing fellow opener Muhammad Zohaib (nine), captain Waseem put the side on course for a famous victory by treating Bangladesh bowlers with disdain right from the outset.
He top-scored for the side with 39-ball 54, clubbing seven fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Alongside him, Asis Khan made 21-ball 42 and Rahul Chopra 35 off 22 as UAE appeared favourites to gun down the target.
Bangladesh pacers bowled well in tandem in the middle overs with Hasan Mahmud taking 3/33.
Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim bagged two wickets apiece in a measly bowling effort to strangle UAE as Bangladesh won the match with ease.
The second and final match is slated for Monday.
1ST T20I
Bangladesh 191/7 (Emon 100, Jawadullah 4/21) beat UAE 164 (Waseem 54, Hasan 3/33) by 27 runs
