THE England A tour party were impressed by the Khulna rookie fast bowler Dollar Mahmud during their tour of Bangladesh in March, and this week he started his climb up the ladder to international recognition with the first hat-trick in the domestic championship’s nine-year history.

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Mahmud, 19, breezed into National Cricket League record books on the first morning of Khulna’s home four-dayer against Rajshahi at Bir Shrestha Motiur Rahman Stadium, sharing the new ball with senior international Syed Rasel in the absence of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

Mahmud had earlier bowled Jahirul Islam – the opener Stuart Broad dismissed regularly -- with a delivery that moved in. With his fifth delivery of over number five Mahmud had Junaed Siddique lbw, followed by Naeem Islam caught behind. With the first delivery of his sixth over, he had Mushfiqur Rahman also edging to wicketkeeper Sahagir.

Mahmud finished with figures of seven for 39. The Khulna and former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said: “He was amazing. The wicket had nothing in it for quick bowlers, but Dollar was outstanding. I still can’t believe a pace bowler had taken seven wickets on such a surface,”.

“He was extremely quick through the air and bowled a fuller length. All the wickets came off genuine wicket-taking deliveries and no one can say that the odd one kept low or he received assistance from the pitch.”

Mahmud had been scheduled to fly to Pakistan with the Bangladesh Under 19 side, but the tour was postponed.