Hassan Eisakhil, son of Afghanistan legend Mohammad Nabi, scored his maiden T20 century in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Sunday (January 18).
Hassan Eisakhil scores a T20 ton before father Mohammad Nabi
Opening the batting for Noakhali Express against Rangpur Riders, Eisakhil, playing just his third BPL game, hit 107 off 72 with four fours and 11 maximums. Interestingly, Nabi, who bats in the middle order, is yet to hit a hundred in his 478-game strong T20 career.
The youngster was cautious to start with, sharing a 32-run opening partnership with Rahmat Ali, of which he scored 20 runs in 24 balls. Eisakhil slowed down further, scoring just a run off his next six deliveries, and eventually completing his fifty with a four at run-a-ball, 36 of which came off boundaries (four maximums and three fours).
Match 29, Rangpur Riders vs Noakhali Express
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But the opener then changed gears, hitting four sixes and a four off his next 15 deliveries, and then three maximums from his last five, also bringing his ton in 70 balls in the process. He received good support from captain Haider Ali, who scored 42 off 32 and together stitched an unbeaten 137-run partnership, taking Noakhali to a healthy 173. But they fell short at the end as Rangpur got home on the penultimate delivery of the game.
Eisakhil had made his BPL bow with a player of the match performance against the Dhaka Capitals earlier this season. He scored 92 off 60, even sharing a half-century partnership with his father in the process, to lead Noakhali to a 41-run win. Nabi handed him his maiden BPL cap after earlier delaying his ODI retirement for a chance to play with his son.
The 19-year-old got a start in his second outing, against Chattogram Royals, but was dismissed for 25 off 20 on the last ball of the powerplay. None of the Noakhali batters bettered his score as they lost by five wickets.
Image Courtesy: Bangladesh Cricket/X
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