Towhid Hridoy scored an unbeaten double-century to drag Bangladesh out of trouble and secure a vital first-innings lead on the third day of the second World Test Championship Test against West Indies in Sylhet on Saturday.
The hosts reached a total of 386 all out, thanks largely to Hridoy carrying his bat for a magnificent 242 not out, which surpassed the previous highest individual Test score in Sylhet. West Indies reached 7-0 in their second innings before bad light brought an early end to proceedings, leaving the visitors trailing by 23 runs.
Bangladesh resumed the morning session on 88-3, still trailing by 268 runs after West Indies had posted 356 in their first innings. The home side suffered an immediate collapse in the opening session as the visiting spinners tore through the middle order.
Jomel Warrican claimed the wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim for 34 and Litton Das for eight in consecutive overs, with both batters caught at cover. Mushfiqur drove on the up to offer a sharp catch to Roston Chase, while Litton lobbed an easy chance to Brandon King.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz fell for 16 after playing an uppish lap sweep that resulted in Justin Greaves running from slip to take a smart catch on the leg side. Warrican then dismissed Hasan Mahmud caught behind for one as Bangladesh slumped into deeper trouble at 184-7.
Hridoy, who was unbeaten on 100 at the lunch interval, found a reliable partner in Taijul Islam to stage a crucial recovery. The pair put on 117 runs for the eighth wicket to frustrate the West Indies bowling attack and steady the innings.
Taijul contributed 22 runs before he was stumped by Amir Jangoo off the bowling of Warrican, leaving the score at 301-8. Despite losing his partner, Hridoy continued to accelerate and surpassed Mahmudul Hasan Joy's previous record of 171 against Ireland to set the highest Test score at the venue.
Hridoy's magnificent knock was adorned with 22 boundaries and 11 towering sixes as he converted his maiden Test hundred into a double-century. Bangladesh were playing a batter down due to an injury sustained by opening batsman Shadman Islam on the second day of the match.
Taskin Ahmed added 12 runs before he was dismissed by Jayden Seales, concluding the Bangladesh innings with a lead of 30 runs over the visitors. West Indies faced a brief period of batting before bad light forced the players off the field with seven runs on the board.
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