Mashrafe's record ton sets up Kalabagan Krira Chakra's win

Mashrafe Mortaza slammed a 50-ball century, the fastest by a Bangladeshi in List A cricket, in Kalabagan Krira Chakra's 21-run win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in Fatullah.

Shakib Al Hasan's 63-ball century against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2009 was the previous fastest List A century by a Bangladeshi. Mashrafe's feat is now placed third among the fastest List A centuries hit in Bangladesh, behind Brain Lara's 45-ball-effort against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 1999 and Brendan Taylor's 46-ball effort for Prime Bank Cricket Club against Kalabagan Cricket Academy in Rajshahi in 2013.

Mashrafe smashed 11 sixes, the second highest by a batsman in List A cricket in Bangladesh. A majority of his sixes came in the arc between deep midwicket and long-on. Shane Watson struck 15 sixes during his 185 not out off 96 balls in Mirpur in 2011. Mashrafe's 11 sixes are the most by a batsman in the Dhaka Premier League, after the tournament was given List A status in 2013.

Kalabagan were reduced to 169 for 4 by the 36th over when Mashrafe walked out to bat. He cracked four sixes by the time he reached 50 off 35 balls. Mashrafe kicked into higher gear when he hit seamer Muktar Ali for three sixes in the 46th over. He then crashed four sixes off left-arm spinner Wahidul Alam, including three on the trot, in the 48th over.

Mashrafe needed only 15 balls to move from fifty to hundred before he was dismissed in the penultimate over of Kalabagan's innings. Opener Jashimuddin, Hamilton Masakadza, and Tasamul Haque made useful contributions as their team surged to 316 for 7.

Mashrafe then struck in the first over of the chase, having Mahbulul Karim caught by Abdur Razzak for a three-ball duck. Abdullah Al Mamun and Sohag Gazi added 71 runs for the second wicket but the partnership ended when Masakadza removed Abdullah for 40 in the 13th over. Masakadza went on to cut through Dhanmondi's batting line-up with figures of 4 for 37. Late fifties from Zabid Hossain and Muktar to add to 49 off 27 balls from No.11 Alam gave Kalabagan a scare. But they eventually scraped to their second win in six games.

Shahriar Nafees struck his first List A ton after nine years, as Brothers Union sent Cricket Coaching School to their sixth consecutive defeat. This time CCS lost by 38 runs.

Having been inserted, Brothers, led by Nafees' 134 off 147 balls, posted 253 for 6. Nafees struck 14 fours and five sixes, having reached 100 off 132 balls. He put on 108 for the first wicket with Imrul Kayes, who made 49, and 60 for the fourth wicket with Zakir Hasan. Nafees' knock was ended by left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed in the last over of Brothers' innings.

CCS then had a shaky start to the chase, losing both openers by the ninth over. Saif Hassan and Salman Hossain added 139 for the third wicket. However, both fell in quick succession and the lower-middle order crumbled. CCS were ultimately bowled out for 215 in 47.2 overs.

Gazi Group Cricketers picked up their fourth win after beating Kalabagan Cricket Academy by eight wickets at the BKSP-3 ground.

Batting first, KCA were shot out for 186 in 47.3 overs with legspinner Alok Kapali taking his maiden five-for in List A cricket. He finished with figures of 5 for 44, including a maiden. Jatin Saxena top-scored for KCA with 44 while Mahmudul Hasan contributed 41.

Gazi Group then reached the target in 40.2 overs with Shamsur Rahman leading the way with an unbeaten 95 off 120 balls, including eight fours and three sixes. Anamul Haque, Mehedi Hasan, and Saeed Anwar jnr made cameos to assist Shamsur.