Afif Hossain Dhrubo made up for his “golden duck” with the bat by delivering a stunning performance with the ball. On Sunday at the Khulna Divisional Stadium the 26-year-old all-rounder took a hat-trick and finished with 6 wickets, using his clever off-spin.
On the second day of the first round of the National Cricket League, Afif achieved the hat-trick against Barishal. In total, he picked up 6 wickets for just 21 runs in 10.5 overs.
However, Afif claimed Barishal’s last three wickets in consecutive deliveries. On the first ball of the 42nd over, he dismissed Shamsul Islam Anik LBW.
The very next delivery trapped Yasir Arafat Mishu LBW as well. The last batsman, Ruel Mia, faced the hat-trick ball but could not connect, as Afif’s precise delivery struck the pad.
Responding to a strong appeal, the umpire raised his finger immediately. Afif and his teammates celebrated the hat-trick with exuberance.
Afif became the 19th bowler in Bangladesh’s first-class cricket history to take a hat-trick. Among the previous 18, Elias Sunny, Sohag Gazi, and Mohammad Ashraful each achieved two hat-tricks.
Before the hat-trick, Afif had already taken wickets of Salman Hossain Emon, Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, and Fazle Mahmud Rabbi. This was his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
Earlier, in the 2018 National League against Rajshahi, Afif had taken 7 wickets for 66 runs.
Chasing Khulna’s total of 313, Barishal was bundled out for just 126 in their first innings, forcing them to follow on. They are currently batting in their second innings.
