Towhid Hridoy produced a record-breaking innings in the second Test against West Indies, becoming Bangladesh’s highest individual run-scorer in Test cricket with an unbeaten 242 in Sylhet on Saturday (November 7).
The 25-year-old surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim’s previous record of 219 not out against Zimbabwe in 2018, while also becoming the first Bangladesh batter to convert his maiden Test century into a double hundred.
Hridoy’s marathon knock proved decisive in rescuing Bangladesh from a precarious position. The hosts, who had conceded 356 in the West Indies first innings, were struggling at 184/7 before the right-hander led a remarkable recovery to take them to 386 and secure a 30-run first-innings lead.
Hridoy Scripts History In Sylhet
Hridoy’s unbeaten 242 came off 359 deliveries and included 22 fours and 11 sixes. He reached his maiden Test century off 171 balls before accelerating after lunch, turning a rescue act into one of the finest innings in Bangladesh’s Test history.
The landmark double century came off 304 balls, as Hridoy guided a delivery from Jomel Warrican towards long-off for a single. In doing so, he became only the fourth Bangladesh batter to score a double century in Tests, joining Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.
His innings also made him the first Bangladesh batter to score a Test double century against West Indies and the first to register a double hundred at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
From 184/7 To A First-Innings Lead
Bangladesh’s innings had been in danger of falling apart after West Indies’ spinners triggered a middle-order collapse on the third morning.
Resuming at 88/3, Bangladesh lost Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud in quick succession. The hosts slipped to 184/7, still trailing West Indies by 172 runs.
Hridoy, who had already built a 73-run partnership with Mushfiqur for the fourth wicket, found an able ally in Taijul Islam. The pair added 117 runs for the eighth wicket, taking Bangladesh past 300 and changing the course of the innings.
Taijul contributed 22 before being stumped by Amir Jangoo off Warrican. Hridoy continued to dominate, however, and was joined by Taskin Ahmed, with the pair adding another 85 runs for the ninth wicket.
Bangladesh eventually reached 386, with Hridoy unbeaten on 242. The hosts had turned a potentially damaging deficit into a 30-run lead.
A Record-Breaking Innings
Hridoy’s knock rewrote several records for Bangladesh:
- Highest individual Test score for Bangladesh: 242 not out, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim’s 219 not out.
- First Bangladeshi to convert a maiden Test century into a double hundred.
- Fourth Bangladeshi to score a Test double century, after Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.
- First Bangladeshi to score a Test double century against West Indies.
- 11 sixes in the innings, one short of the record of 12 sixes in a Test innings.
- 117-run eighth-wicket partnership with Taijul Islam, which revived Bangladesh after they had slipped to 184/7.
The innings was especially significant given Hridoy’s limited experience in the longest format. Playing only his third Test, he had managed 54 runs across his first two appearances before producing a knock that placed him at the top of Bangladesh’s Test batting records.
Bangladesh Take A Crucial Lead
West Indies had posted 356 in their first innings, putting Bangladesh under pressure to respond. Hridoy’s effort ensured the hosts not only avoided a substantial deficit but also took a slender lead into the second innings.
The visitors began their reply with Brandon King and Joshua Da Silva at the crease, reaching 7/0 before bad light brought an early end to the third day. West Indies trailed by 23 runs.