Record-breaking Hridoy puts Bangladesh on top

Right-hander becomes just the fourth Bangladesh batter to score a Test double century

SYLHET:

Towhid Hridoy broke the record for the highest individual Test score by a Bangladesh batter when he struck an unbeaten 242 against West Indies in Sylhet on Saturday.

Playing only his third Test, Hridoy became just the fourth Bangladesh batter to score a Test double century, reaching the milestone off 304 balls.

Hridoy's sparkling knock included 22 fours and 11 sixes and carried Bangladesh into an unlikely 23-run lead on the third day of the second Test.

The 25-year-old almost singlehandedly hauled Bangladesh to a total of 386, after it seemed West Indies would establish a commanding lead.

Hridoy's 242 not out surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim's previous Bangladesh Test record of 219 not out against Zimbabwe in 2018.

"That was an outstanding innings. It's an unbelievable innings in the end," Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons told reporters.

"Understanding the game, knowing which shots to play, when to give the last three batsmen the strike, everything he did exceptionally in this innings."

West Indies had Bangladesh in deep trouble at 184-7, with opener Shadman Islam unable to bat because of an ankle injury.

Hridoy led an astonishing turnaround though as Bangladesh passed West Indies' first-innings score of 356.

"I just think he batted extremely well. I've got to give him his credit. He played a beautiful innings, he put Bangladesh in a good position," West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican said.

"We as a team who was in the ascendancy, we were thinking about what lead we could have gotten or how big the lead could have been. But the way he batted was special."

West Indies reached seven without loss at stumps, with opener Brandon King batting on five and Joshua Da Silva unbeaten on two.

Warrican was the most successful bowler for the visitors with 4-104, while Jayden Seales claimed 2-58.

- Hridoy turns the tables -

Bangladesh resumed the day on 88-3, still trailing by 268 runs, with Hridoy on 29 and Mushfiqur unbeaten on 19.

The pair added 73 runs before Warrican broke the partnership, deceiving Mushfiqur with a flighted delivery that prompted a loose shot. King took an excellent diving catch to dismiss him for 34.

Litton Das fell into a similar trap against Warrican for eight, leaving Bangladesh at 138-5.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz added 16 before falling to a clever catch by Justin Greaves at leg gully off Roston Chase.

Warrican then removed Hasan Mahmud for one as Bangladesh lost their seventh wicket while still 172 runs short of West Indies.

At the other end, Hridoy continued to flourish, reaching his maiden Test fifty off 109 balls before accelerating to his first century in 171 deliveries.

Hridoy and Taijul Islam frustrated West Indies after lunch, adding 117 runs for the eighth wicket to bring Bangladesh within 38 runs of the visitors' total by tea.

King missed an opportunity to break the stand when he dropped Taijul off Warrican on 20, with Bangladesh on 290-7. Warrican eventually ended the partnership when Taijul failed to get his foot back behind the crease and was dismissed for 22 after batting for more than two hours.

Hridoy, joined by last man Taskin Ahmed, continued his assault, reaching his double century by pushing Warrican towards long-on for a single in the 100th over.

He then moved past Mushfiqur's record with a boundary off Warrican. Seales eventually ended Taskin's resistance, bouncing him out for 12 to break an 85-run ninth-wicket partnership.