Young fast bowler Nahid Rana has etched his name into the annals of Bangladeshi cricket history by surpassing the long-standing records of former national captain Mashrafe Mortaza and veteran speedster Rubel Hossain. Producing an exceptional display of raw pace and clinical accuracy, the promising young bowler dismantled the host nation’s batting line-up during the opening match of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Zimbabwe.
Playing at the Harare Sports Club ground on Sunday, Rana single-handedly tore through the Zimbabwean top and middle order. His aggressive spell left the hosts entirely searching for answers, causing them to collapse to a meagre 141 all out in just 36.4 overs. The relentless pressure applied by the young bowler ensured that Zimbabwe could never build any meaningful partnerships on their home turf.
Rana finished the innings with astonishing figures, conceding a mere 21 runs whilst capturing six crucial wickets during his maximum quota of 10 overs. This stellar performance now stands as the best-ever bowling analysis by a Bangladeshi bowler in the history of ODI cricket. The achievement highlights the rapid development of the country’s fast-bowling unit, which has historically relied heavily on spin-bowling options to secure victories.
For well over a decade, this prestigious national record was held jointly by Mashrafe Mortaza and Rubel Hossain. Mortaza originally set the benchmark in 2006 during an ODI against Kenya, where he claimed six wickets for 26 runs in a 10-over spell. Seven years later, in 2013, Rubel Hossain equalled that feat in dramatic fashion by taking six wickets for 26 runs in just 5.5 overs against New Zealand. By giving away five fewer runs than his illustrious predecessors, Rana has now assumed sole possession of the national record, signaling a bright future for Bangladesh’s pace attack.