Nigar Sultana Joty etched her name in Bangladesh cricket history by becoming first Bangladeshi woman to score a century in first-class cricket.
She achieved this remarkable milestone with an unbeaten 153 runs for Central Zone in their opening match against North Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at Rajshahi Stadium.
Joty's innings was the highlight of the match, which ultimately ended in a draw. She reached her century on the third and final day, adding to her tally with a display of aggressive batting before Central Zone declared their innings at 387-8.
North Zone's Farzana Haque Pinky also shone with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 102 in the second innings. However, she narrowly missed the chance to claim the title of the first Bangladeshi woman to score a century in first-class cricket, having been dismissed for 86 in the first innings.
Several other batters came close to achieving the landmark but fell short. In another BCL match, South Zone’s Ayesh Rahman was denied a century by just six runs, while Jhilik from South Zone and Sharmin Akhter Supta from East Zone were dismissed for 82 and 88 runs, respectively.
The match saw strong performances from both sides. North Zone declared their first innings at 240-9 on Day 1, with Farzana’s 86 providing a solid foundation. On Day 2, Central Zone reached 308-5 with Joty unbeaten on 85.
Joty’s century on the final day cemented her legacy in Bangladeshi cricket. Her innings of 153 not out not only set a benchmark for women’s cricket in the country but also showcased her ability to perform under pressure.
Farzana’s unbeaten 102 in North Zone’s second innings also marked a significant achievement, underscoring the growing talent in Bangladeshi women’s cricket.
