Brandon King Smashes Chris Gayle’s Record As West Indies Take Down Bangladesh in Mirpur

Brandon King walked into Mirpur with doubts hanging over his Test career and walked out as a record-breaker. His unbeaten 81 powered West Indies to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first Test, handing the visitors a 1-0 series lead and rewriting a mark that Chris Gayle had held for years.

King Rewrites the Record Books

West Indies chased down 170 on the fourth day, October 31, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. While Jomel Warrican stole the headlines with nine wickets in the match, King’s calm, controlled knock sealed the deal.

The right-hander finished unbeaten on 81 off 115 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries and a six. That is now the highest individual score by a West Indies batter in a successful fourth-innings chase against Bangladesh in Test cricket.

Gayle had owned that benchmark with an unbeaten 37 back in 2002. King more than doubled it, lifting the bar far beyond where it stood.

A Flying Start Sets the Tone

King opened alongside John Campbell, and the pair wasted no time in taking the pressure off the chase. Together they added 112 runs for the first wicket, a stand that effectively broke Bangladesh’s resistance.

Campbell contributed 49 off 55 deliveries and now sits second on the list of highest scores by West Indies openers in a successful fourth-innings chase against Bangladesh. His brisk start gave King the freedom to settle in.

King reached his half-century in 68 balls and kept batting with the same assurance after Campbell’s departure. There was no panic and no wasted energy, just a steady march toward the target.

Highest Individual Scores by West Indies Openers in Successful Fourth-Innings Chases vs Bangladesh

From a Quiet First Innings to Redemption

The second-innings heroics were a sharp contrast to King’s first outing in the match. He managed only 15 off 20 balls before Hasan Mahmud dismissed him.

That made the turnaround even more satisfying. King took the early setback, reset his approach and delivered when his team needed him most.

The knock also helped him move past a difficult stretch in the longest format. His previous Test assignment, the tour of Pakistan, brought him just 63 runs at an average of 15.75. He scored 12 and 5 in the first Test, followed by 46 before an injury ruled him out.

Putting Pakistan Behind Him

Coming back from a tough series and an injury is never simple, especially in Asian conditions where openers are tested early. King’s patience in Dhaka showed a player who has learned from those struggles.

An unbeaten 81 in a successful chase is the kind of innings that changes how a player is viewed, both by selectors and by himself.

What It Means for West Indies

West Indies now lead the series 1-0, and the win came through a balanced team effort. Warrican’s nine wickets laid the groundwork, and the top order finished the job with authority.

For the team management, King’s innings is a strong reason to keep backing him at the top of the order. A big knock in the fourth innings, with the match on the line, carries more weight than most.

For King, it is a personal milestone and a statement. He has turned a tricky Test comeback into a record-setting performance and given the Caribbean side real momentum heading into the rest of the series.

The big question now is whether he can build on this. If King carries this form forward, West Indies could have found an opener who thrives when the pressure is highest.