Fifty in 22 balls: Jawad Abrar sets new record for fastest half-century in Bangladesh first-class cricket

Young Barisal Division batter Jawad Abrar has set a new record for the fastest half-century in Bangladesh's domestic first-class cricket. Playing in the third round of the ongoing 2026-27 National Cricket League (NCL) season, he reached fifty in just 22 balls to achieve the historic feat.

On the third day of the match, Jawad unleashed an assault on the opposition bowlers. Opening the batting in Barisal Division's second innings, he batted in an attacking mood from the very start.

After the blistering 22-ball fifty, the youngster came close to a century. He eventually returned to the pavilion with a superb 91 off 94 balls — his innings ending just nine runs short of a hundred.

Jawad's destructive innings broke the long-standing record of experienced pace-bowling all-rounder Ziaur Rahman, who until now had held the record for the fastest fifty in first-class cricket on his own.

This is now the new milestone for the fastest fifty by a Bangladeshi batter in first-class cricket. Such pace in the long format of the red-ball game is truly rare.

However, the other formats of domestic cricket boast even faster fifties. In List A, or 50-over domestic cricket, the fastest-fifty record belongs to young opener Parvez Hossain Emon, who scored a half-century in just 15 balls in the 2024-25 season.

In the T20 format, meanwhile, the fastest-fifty record is held by hard-hitting batter Habibur Rahman Sohan, who reached fifty in only 14 balls in the 2025-26 season.

Jawad Abrar's fearless and timely batting, moving beyond the traditional defensive mould of red-ball cricket, has sparked wide discussion in the country's cricket circles.

Breaking a long-standing record in a traditional tournament like the NCL and announcing his arrival in this manner, Jawad's innings is being seen as a highly positive addition for the country's domestic cricket.

If the young batter can now maintain this consistency, he will create opportunities to prove himself on bigger stages ahead — and that is where the expectations of the cricket fraternity now lie.