DHAKA, May 18, 2025 (BSS)—Opener Parvez Hossain Emon struck a record-breaking century as Bangladesh made an excellent start to the two-match T20 International series against United Arab Emirates (UAE), securing a comprehensive 27-run victory in the opening match at the 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 eventually were wrapped up for 164 in 20 overs.

Emon, single-handedly, took the side closer to 200-run mark after UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem put Bangladesh into bat first.

The young opener saw the early departure of fellow opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and skipper Liton Das but that couldn’t distract him from hitting the ball with sheer power and audacity.

Both Tanzid and Liton had a promising start but they simply couldn’t carry on it. However, Emon never changed the 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 Bangladesh a batter, 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 batter to hit a ton in T20 International after Tamim Iqbal.

Tamim struck 63 ball-103 against Oman in 2016 T20 World Cup and the record stood nine years, before Emon joined him in the century club.

By raising his century off 53 balls, Emon became the fastest centurion of Bangladesh.

Coincidentally he also bettered Tamim’s record to be fastest T20 centurion ( 42 ball-century) in domestic circuit.

He scored 74 runs in boundaries in his knock, 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 last over. Jawadullah eventually finished with 4-21.

Emon got a touch 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 which were 21. Towhid Hridoy was the other notable scorer with 20.

Despite  losing fellow opener Muhammad Zohaib, skipper Waseem put the side on course of a famous victory by treating Bangladesh bowlers in disdain right from the outset.

He top-scored the side with 39 ball-54, hitting seven fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Alongside him, Asis Khan hammered 21 ball-42 and Rahul Chopra made 35 off 22 as UAE appeared favourtie 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 Sakib took two wickets apiece in a measly bowling effort to strangle UAE as Bangladesh won the match with ease.

The second and final match is on Monday.