Stats: Liton Das scores Bangladesh's fastest double century in first-class cricket

The century in the Asia Cup final against India was crucial for Liton Das in many ways as he ended his disastrous run in the ODI format. A controversial decision brought an end to his 117-ball 121 in that game. However, the keeper-batsman ensured he carried on from where he left in the final with a double century in the National Cricket League. Liton was dismissed on 17 in the first innings in which his team Rangpur Division were bowled out for 151.

The opposition team Rajshahi Division posted 589/4 in their first innings that included a 311-run opening partnership. Trailing by 438 runs, Rangpur finished the third day at 319/2 in only 49 overs as Liton Das struck quick-fire double-century. The opening batsman scored a 142-ball 203 with 32 fours and four sixes. He reached the magical number 200 in 140 deliveries, the fastest by a Bangladesh player in FC cricket and the 10th fastest known FC double.

The previous fastest FC double ton by a Bangladesh player was by Liton Das only. He had scored a 190-ball double ton on his way to 274 off 293 balls for East Zone earlier this year against Central Zone. The overall record is held by Afghanistan’s Shafiqullah Shafaq who scored an 89-ball double century earlier this year in the Domestic FC tournament. He thus bettered the 33-year-old record of Ravi Shastri by 34 deliveries. Shastri got to his double ton in 123 deliveries in the 1985 Ranji Trophy game in which he struck six sixes in an over.

Glamorgan batsman Aneurin Donald came close to surpassing Shastri in 2016 as he also brought up his double ton in 123 deliveries. Prior to Shastri, the fastest FC double century was on the name of Clive Lloyd who scored a 124-ball 200 against Glamorgan in 1976 for West Indians. Three of the top ten fastest known double centuries in first-class cricket have been recorded in 2018. South Africa’s young player Marco Marais breached the barrier in 139 balls in 2018. He ended up scoring the fastest triple century in FC history in only 191 deliveries.

Fastest known double centuries in first-class cricket:

(Stats as on October 10, 2018)

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