Abu Haider Roni, a left-arm fast bowler by trade, has stunned fans and opponents alike with his batting exploits in this season’s National Cricket League. Known previously for his pace bowling, the 30-year-old all-rounder has reinvented himself as a heavy-hitting force capable of dismantling even the most disciplined bowling line-ups.
The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium bore witness to his most sensational display during the league’s final match. Facing Rajshahi, Roni smashed 10 fours and 13 sixes to remain unbeaten on 141 runs from 127 balls. His innings combined timing, power, and audacity, marking him as the league’s most destructive batsman this season.
Roni’s journey to these staggering numbers is all the more impressive given he played only four matches, participating in seven innings due to national duty commitments. He amassed 32 sixes, a tally unmatched by any other player in the league, with just four players achieving double-digit six counts. Roni also hit 31 fours, showing a remarkable balance between aggressive six-hitting and classical boundary play.
Across seven innings, he scored 421 runs at an extraordinary average of 105.25 and a strike rate of 116.94. Boundaries alone contributed 316 runs, underlining his dominance. Notably, no other batter among those scoring over 250 runs in the league managed an average above 65 or a strike rate over 80.
Roni’s campaign started with a bang, scoring 107 not out with 10 fours and six sixes against Sylhet. He followed this with 60 runs off 34 balls against Rangpur, demonstrating his ability to score rapidly in crucial moments. After a break for ‘A’ team duty, he returned to the sixth round to score 97 runs off 76 balls with seven sixes and eight fours, narrowly missing another century.
In his final innings, Roni recreated the magic of his debut, hammering 13 sixes and 10 fours to finish unbeaten on 141 against Rajshahi. Despite this Herculean effort, Mymensingh could not chase Rajshahi’s mammoth target of 428, finishing at 281. Experienced left-arm spinner Sanjamul Islam claimed five wickets in each innings, securing the victory for Rajshahi.
Roni’s performance proves that he is no longer just a fast bowler. His name has become synonymous with destructive batting, and he has firmly established himself as the premier all-rounder in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket circuit.