Towhid Hridoy’s Record-Breaking 242 Rescues Bangladesh in Sylhet Test
Towhid Hridoy produced a remarkable innings of courage and controlled aggression, scoring an unbeaten 242 to transform Bangladesh’s position in the second Test against West Indies in Sylhet. With the hosts struggling at 184 for 7 and facing the prospect of a substantial first-innings deficit, Hridoy led a stunning lower-order recovery that carried Bangladesh to 386 on the third day.
His effort was the highest individual score by a Bangladesh batter in Test cricket, surpassing the country’s previous record. It also made him only the fourth player from Bangladesh to reach a Test double-century, joining Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Hridoy’s 11 sixes added another landmark to the innings, leaving him just one short of the world record for most sixes in a Test innings, shared by Wasim Akram and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
At the close of play, West Indies had reached 7 without loss in their second innings. The visitors were therefore 23 runs behind Bangladesh, despite having held a strong position earlier in the day. The match remained finely balanced, but Hridoy’s extraordinary contribution had shifted the pressure back onto the West Indies side.
A difficult morning turns into a Bangladesh revival
Bangladesh’s day began with Hridoy on 29 from 80 deliveries, but the early hours brought little comfort for the home team. West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican made a decisive impact, removing Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das in successive overs. Both batters were caught at cover, leaving Bangladesh’s middle order exposed.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed after Justin Greaves produced an alert piece of fielding. Mehidy attempted a paddle sweep, but Greaves moved across from slip to complete the catch. Warrican then dismissed Hasan Mahmud for one, reducing Bangladesh to 184 for 7 shortly before lunch. At that stage, the hosts appeared likely to concede a significant advantage to West Indies.
Instead, Hridoy responded by changing the character of the innings. He combined patience with increasingly bold strokeplay, choosing his moments to attack while keeping the scoreboard moving. His approach was especially important because Bangladesh had so few established batters left. The innings became a test of concentration as much as power, and Hridoy met both demands.
Partnerships give Hridoy room to attack
Taijul Islam played a crucial supporting role during the recovery. He did not need to dominate the scoring: by staying at the crease, facing deliveries and rotating the strike, he allowed Hridoy to take greater risks at the other end. The pair added 117 runs for the eighth wicket, a stand that turned a collapsing innings into a competitive total.
Hridoy began to target the West Indies attack more freely, including against Roston Chase. He cleared the boundary over square leg and followed up with two more sixes in Chase’s next over. An upper-cut off Shamar Joseph had already offered a glimpse of his intent, and the pressure continued to build as the partnership grew.
The arrival of the second new ball did not interrupt Bangladesh’s momentum. Taijul struck boundaries against Jayden Seales and Joseph, while Hridoy punished Seales with a four and a six in the same over. He reached 150 with a wristy flick off Joseph and added two more boundaries against the pacer soon afterwards.
When Hridoy moved to 172, he passed Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s previous best Test score at Sylhet, 171 against Ireland. He continued to find scoring opportunities before Warrican ended the eighth-wicket stand by stumping Taijul for 22. Although the partnership was over, Taijul’s contribution had given Hridoy the time and support needed to take control.
Double-century and a barrage of sixes
After the interval, Hridoy resumed his attack. He brought up his double-century in the fourth over of the final session, taking a single from Warrican to reach the landmark. The achievement placed him among Bangladesh’s most notable Test performers and gave the home crowd a moment to celebrate after a tense start to the day.
Hridoy then moved past Tamim Iqbal’s record for the most sixes by a Bangladesh batter in a single Test innings, sending Bishop over the rope for his eighth maximum. The West Indies bowlers struggled to contain him. Hridoy found the boundary against Warrican in three consecutive overs and later struck Bishop straight down the ground.
Chase again came under attack as Hridoy launched two more sixes, one with a slog sweep and another with a clean hit over the bowler’s head. His total of 11 sixes placed him within touching distance of the global Test record. Yet the innings was not simply a display of power: Hridoy had started the day cautiously and built his score through a blend of judgment, placement and well-timed aggression.
Taskin Ahmed remained with him as the final wicket fell. Taskin had offered dependable support during the stand, but his innings ended when he top-edged a pull off Seales and was caught at fine leg. Bangladesh were all out for 386, with Hridoy unbeaten on 242 after carrying his bat through a remarkable lower-order surge.
What Hridoy’s innings means for the Test
Bangladesh’s recovery changed the outlook of the match. From 184 for 7, the hosts added 202 runs through their final three wickets, turning a position of vulnerability into a first-innings lead. The innings also demonstrated how lower-order partnerships can reshape a Test, particularly when one batter can maintain control while the other end provides resilience.
West Indies still had an opportunity to respond in their second innings, and the contest was far from settled. Their bowlers had earned a strong position during the morning, with Warrican finishing the innings with four wickets for 104 runs. But Hridoy’s resistance ensured that the visitors could no longer dictate terms from a comfortable lead.
For supporters following the cricket, the next phase promised a compelling contest: West Indies needed to build a second-innings advantage, while Bangladesh would look to use the momentum from Hridoy’s record-breaking performance. Any prediction about the result remained uncertain, with the pitch, the new ball and the visitors’ response all likely to shape the outcome. What was already clear, however, was that Hridoy had delivered one of the most memorable innings in Bangladesh Test history.
Brief scores: West Indies 356 and 7 for 0; Bangladesh 386 (Towhid Hridoy 242 not out, Mushfiqur Rahim 34; Jomel Warrican 4 for 104). West Indies trailed by 23 runs at the close of the third day.
