Mahidul Islam rewrites records with fastest fifty by a Bangladeshi in BPL
Mahidul also became the first Bangladeshi to score a fifty at a strike rate of over 250, breaking Shamim Hossain’s record of a 245.83 strike rate.
Mahidul Islam etched his name into the record books with an astonishing 18-ball fifty, the fastest by a Bangladeshi in BPL history and one of the quickest in recognised T20 cricket.
Delivering a breathtaking display of power-hitting, he smashed an unbeaten 59 off just 22 balls at a strike rate of 268.18, becoming the first Bangladeshi to score a fifty in the tournament at a strike rate exceeding 250.
His innings propelled Khulna Tigers past 200 for the first time this season.
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Coming in with 34 balls remaining in the innings and Khulna yet to cross 120, Mahidul turned the match on its head. Facing Chittagong Kings' bowlers, he raced to his half-century in just 18 balls at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on 30 December.
His innings, featuring a solitary four and six towering sixes, propelled Khulna to a total of 203 for four, the first 200-plus score of the tournament.
Mahidul's 18-ball fifty is the fastest by a Bangladeshi batsman in the BPL, surpassing Rony Talukdar's 19-ball effort for Rangpur Riders against Comilla Victorians in January 2023.
It also equals the record for the fastest fifty by any Bangladeshi batsman in recognised T20 cricket, a feat previously achieved by Litton Das against Ireland in Chattogram the same year.
The Kings' bowlers had no answer to Mahidul's ferocity, with national team pacer Shariful Islam bearing the brunt of the assault. Shariful conceded 30 runs off nine balls to Mahidul, including three sixes in a single over.
Shamim Hossain was also targeted, with Mahidul smashing two sixes off his bowling in consecutive deliveries.
After reaching the crease in the 15th over, Mahidul unleashed his destructive intent almost immediately. Two consecutive sixes off Shamim set the tone, followed by two more maximums when Shariful returned for a new spell.
By the time Mahidul reached his fifty with a single, he had already dismantled the Kings' attack, leaving them with no chance to recover.
Mahidul's innings places him in elite company in the BPL's history. Only Sunil Narine (13 balls) and Ahmed Shehzad (16 balls) have achieved faster fifties in the tournament.
Mahidul also became the first Bangladeshi to score a fifty at a strike rate of over 250, breaking Shamim Hossain's record of a 245.83 strike rate during his 24-ball 59 for Rangpur Riders last season.
