Parvez ends a long century drought for Bangladesh in T20Is with a fluent knock

Parvez Hossain Emon has struck a blistering century to power Bangladesh to a 27-run win over the United Arab Emirates in the opening match of their two-game T20 series in Sharjah, ending the team’s long, agonising wait for a hundred in the shortest format.

His ton on Saturday was Bangladesh’s first T20 century since Tamim Iqbal’s unbeaten 103 against Oman in the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Parvez ended that drought with a 54-ball 100, laced with 9 sixes and 5 fours — the most sixes by a Bangladeshi in a T20I innings.

Despite the one-man show, no other batter crossed 20, and Bangladesh, who were 100 after 10 overs, finished on 191 for 7 — short of the 200-mark.

The UAE put up a spirited chase, with Muhammad Waseem and Asif Khan threatening to take the game away, but they ultimately fell short, bowled out for 164.

This marked Bangladesh’s first T20I win in four attempts at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The match was also a victorious debut for Litton Das as full-time T20I captain.

Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Bangladesh opened with two left-handers, Tanzid Hasan and Parvez, leaving out experienced campaigner Soumya Sarkar.

UAE introduced off-spinner Dhruba Parashar early, but Tanzid took him on with a four and a six in the first over, before falling in the next, caught behind off debutant Matiullah Khan.

Captain Litton followed soon after for 11, bowled by a yorker from left-arm pacer Jawadullah.

Parvez had already begun his assault by then, and continued to dominate. He raced to his fifty in 28 balls, smashing three sixes and a four off Sanchit Sharma in a single over.

At the other end, Towhid Hridoy took his time before finding his rhythm with a six and a four off leg-spinner Mohammad Zuhaib.

The pair took Bangladesh past 100 in the 10th over before Hridoy fell for 20 off 15 balls. Promoted to No 5, Vice-Captain Sheikh Mehedi Hasan made just 2 from 5 balls.

Parvez’s scoring slowed mid-innings with a boundary drought lasting almost five overs, but he broke the lull with a slog-swept six off Zuhaib. He continued his charge despite little support from the other end.

He had a brief scare on 84 when he was caught at long-off off a full toss from Matiullah, but was called back after the delivery was deemed a no-ball.

He followed it up with a four and a six, before finally reaching his hundred off the last ball of the 19th over and jumped in jubilation.

Parvez’s 100 off 53 balls was faster than Tamim’s 60-ball ton and included 9 sixes — surpassing the previous Bangladesh record of 7 sixes in an innings held by Rishad Hossain.

Eight of Parvez’s nine sixes came down the ground, exposing the UAE bowlers’ poor lengths.

He fell on the first ball of the final over, with Bangladesh eventually finishing on 191. The team hit 13 sixes in total — a new single-match record for Bangladesh in T20Is.

Jawadullah was the standout bowler for UAE, taking 4 for 21 runs and completing his 50th T20I wicket in the process.

In reply, Waseem came out swinging, smashing a six and three fours off Sheikh Mehedi in the second over, then hitting a six and two more boundaries off Tanzim Hasan in the third.

Though Hasan Mahmud removed opener Mohammad Zuhaib early and Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Alishan Sharafu, Waseem and Rahul Sharma rebuilt with a 62-run stand.

Waseem struck three fours and a six off Hasan Mahmud, while Rahul tore into Tanvir Islam with three consecutive boundaries.

When UAE reached 100 in the 11th over, they appeared on course for a possible upset.

But Tanzim’s return changed the momentum. He dismissed Waseem for 54 off 39 balls and then Rahul (35 off 22), breaking UAE’s chase.

Asif Khan launched a counterattack with three consecutive sixes off Sheikh Mehedi and looked threatening with 42 off 21 balls.

However, wickets continued to fall around him, and Mustafizur’s cutters and slower balls sealed the collapse.

UAE lost their last five wickets for just 10 runs, and none of their final six batters reached double figures.

The second and final match of the series is scheduled for Monday.