Nigar Sultana Joty became the country's first women cricketer to hit a century in the first class cricket when she made 153 not out for her side Central Zone's match against North Zone in the opening game of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at the Rajshahi Stadium today.
Soon after her century, North Zone's Farzana Haque Pinky followed her with 102 not out. The match eventually ended in a draw.
But Farzana could consider herself as unlucky. She raised the prospect of hitting the century as the first Bangladeshi female batter but was dismissed for 86 in the first innings.
The likes of Ayesh Rahman, playing for South Zone against East Zone in other match of the BCL, also had the chance but she was denied a century by six runs. South Zone's Jhilik and East Zone's Sharmin Akhter Supta also missed out what could have been landmark century after being out for 82 and 88 runs respectively.
However, Farzana's 86-run knock helped North Zone declare the first innings at 240-9 on Day 1 and Central Zone ended the Day 2 on 308-5 with Joty on 85.
On Day 3, the final day of the game, Joty soon reached her century to inscribe her name permanently in country's cricket folklore.
After reaching her century, she played aggressively to reach 153 not out as Central Zone declared at 387-8. At the close of the day North Zone reached 204-1 with Farzana bringing up her own century to be not out on 102.
