Emon hits fastest T20I ton by a Bangladeshi as Tigers post 191/7 against UAE

Parvez Hossain Emon became only the second Bangladeshi to score a T20I ton, which was also the fastest by a Bangladesh batter in the format, to help the Tigers post a commendable total of 191 for seven in the first of the two-match series against hosts UAE at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today.

Also, Emon, who smashed a total of nine sixes and five fours during his blistering innings, now holds the record for most sixes by a Bangladeshi in a T20I innings. Rishad Hossain, who was not picked for today's game, previously held the record for hitting seven sixes against Sri Lanka in Sylhet last year. In total, Bangladesh hit 13 sixes in the innings -- also the highest for the Tigers, surpassing their previous best of 12 maximums against Sri Lanka in the Nidahas Trophy in 2018  

Emon brought up his ton off 53 deliveries, taking seven less than Bangladesh's first T20I centurion Tamim Iqbal, who scored 103 against Oman in Dharmashala in the 2016 T20 World Cup. Emon, however, survived a scare when he was on 84 -- he was caught off a Matiullah Khan delivery, only to survive courtesy of the pacer overstepping. 

Emon was dismissed after scoring 100 off 54 deliveries in the final over of the game, losing his stumps while trying to hit big off a delivery of UAE pacer Muhammad Jawadullah. 

Aside from Emon, only four other batters could reach double-digit scores, with the second-highest contribution coming from extras (21).  

Jawadullah returned the best figures for the hosts, scalping four wickets for 21 in his four overs.  

Emon notches maiden T20I fifty  

Bangladesh opener Parvez Hossain Emon brought up his maiden T20I fifty in a blistering fashion in the first of the two-match series against the UAE at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today. 

Parvez smashed UAE left-arm spinner Haider Ali for a boundary in the ninth over to bring up his fifty off just 28 deliveries. So far, Parvez samshed a total of three boundaries and five maximums, three of which came in the only over bowled by medium pacer Sanchit Sharma.

Parvez remains unbeaten on 53 off 30 deliveries, while Towhid Hridoy raced to 20 off 14 deliveries not out. Hridoy also smashed a four and six. 

Bangladesh scored 103 for the loss of two wickets in 10 overs. 

Skipper Liton Das saw his poor run of form continue, getting dismissed for an eight-ball 11. Opener Tanzid Tamim is the other batter who was dismissed. Tamim scored 10 off nine deliveries.  

No Shanto, Rishad and Nahid as Tigers asked to bat first in first UAE T20I 

Hosts UAE have won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first of the two-match T20I series against Bangladesh at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today. 

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who recently stepped aside from his role as the Tigers' T20I skipper and also missed their last West Indies tour due to injury, was dropped from the side. Shanto endured a poor run of form in the shortest format in recent times. 

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana also did not make the eleven for the game. 

Bangladesh are going in with three pacers -- Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, and Mustafizur Rahman -- and two spin options, including all-rounder Mahedi Hasan and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam. 

Playing XIs:

UAE: Muhammad Waseem(c), Muhammad Zohaib, Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra(w), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Sanchit Sharma, Muhammad Zuhaib, Matiullah Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah

Bangladesh: Litton Das(c), Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali(w), Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman