Towhid Hridoy Smashes Unbeaten 242 as Bangladesh Draw Sylhet Test Against West Indies

Towhid Hridoy shattered Bangladesh’s individual Test scoring record with a monumental unbeaten 242 against the West Indies at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, rescuing the hosts from a desperate 184 for 7 to a first-innings total of 386. The effort gave Bangladesh an unexpected 30-run first-innings lead and secured a draw in the second Test, though West Indies took the two-match WTC27 series 1-0 following their victory in the opening match.

Converting his maiden Test century straight into a double hundred, Towhid Hridoy anchored the entire middle and lower order over a marathon 359-ball stay. His 242 not out eclipsed Mushfiqur Rahim’s previous national record of 219, which had also been scored against the West Indies on the same ground in Sylhet. By adding further runs in the second innings to close out the stalemate, he became the first cricketer from Bangladesh to aggregate over 300 runs in a single Test match.

Counterattack from 184 for 7

The third day in Sylhet began with Bangladesh in severe trouble during their first innings. Having lost seven wickets for just 184 runs, the host side faced a substantial deficit before Hridoy launched a sustained counteroffensive alongside the lower-order batters.

Hridoy systematically accumulated runs while shielding the tail, driving Bangladesh past the West Indies total to reach 386. Explaining his tactical approach after the innings, Hridoy noted that a batter cannot get out of a difficult spot without counterattacking. He also offered direct praise for the lower-order partners who held firm at the other end, allowing him to execute his shots and steady the innings.

The 242-run unbeaten knock came off 359 deliveries, transforming what appeared to be an imminent top-order collapse into a 30-run lead. The recovery forced a stalemate on the final day, denying the visitors a clean sweep.

Record-breaking figures in Sylhet

Hridoy’s double century redefined Bangladesh’s individual Test batting benchmarks. Before this match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Mushfiqur Rahim held the country’s highest individual Test score with his 219-run knock against West Indies. Hridoy surpassed that mark on the third day of the second Test, setting the new standard for Bangladeshi batters in red-ball cricket.

In addition to claiming the highest individual score, Hridoy reached another milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score more than 300 runs in a single Test match across both innings. Despite his dominant batting display that dictated the flow of the second Test, West Indies clinched the WTC27 series 1-0 on the back of their win in the series opener.

Fighting through cramps against India

The record-breaking display in Sylhet follows another significant performance by Hridoy in white-ball cricket. Prior to this Test series, the batter registered his maiden One-Day International century against India under intense pressure.

During that match, Bangladesh suffered an early collapse, slipping to 35 for 5 before Hridoy mounted a rescue operation. Despite suffering severe physical cramps during the latter stage of his innings, he reached 100 runs and pushed Bangladesh’s final total to 229.

Following that match, Hridoy felt he could have scored 20 to 30 runs more if not for the physical limitations caused by the cramps. Although Bangladesh lost the ODI to India by six wickets, the knock highlighted his capability to rebuild an innings from severe trouble.

Backing for South Africa tour

Following his record-setting performance in Sylhet, former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful praised Hridoy’s form and temperament. Ashraful publicly backed the young batter to carry his run-scoring touch into Bangladesh’s upcoming tour of South Africa.

With Bangladesh heading to South Africa for their next international fixture, Hridoy’s ability to counterattack under pressure in both Test and ODI formats positions him as a central figure in the national team’s middle order.