Towhid Hridoy Smashes Bangladesh Test Record With Unbeaten 242 Against West Indies

Towhid Hridoy turned a wobbling Bangladesh innings into a historic celebration in Sylhet. Walking in with the hosts struggling at 184-7, he finished unbeaten on 242 off 359 balls. He rewrote the national Test record book and handed Bangladesh a 30-run first-innings lead against West Indies.

Hridoy Rewrites the Bangladesh Record Book

Hridoy’s 242 not out is now the highest individual Test score by a Bangladesh batter. It overtakes Mushfiqur Rahim’s 219 not out against Zimbabwe in 2018, a mark that had stood for years.

The innings arrived at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on November 7, 2026, in the second and final Test of the series. It featured 22 fours and 11 sixes, and the sixes set a new Bangladesh record for the most by any batter in a single Test innings.

Hridoy raised his maiden Test century off 171 balls, then refused to ease off. He became the first Bangladesh batter to convert a maiden hundred into a double century.

Joining an Elite Bangladesh Club

Hridoy is the fourth Bangladeshi to score a Test double century. He joins Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal on that exclusive list.

Remarkably, this was only his third Test. He was added to the squad after Mominul Haque suffered a concussion, and he made the most of the opportunity.

From 184-7 to a Commanding Lead

At 184-7, West Indies looked firmly in control. Bangladesh were in real danger of conceding a sizeable first-innings deficit.

Hridoy changed that with a mix of patience, power and smart game management. He found boundaries even when the field was spread, and he kept the scoreboard moving through the tail.

The Partnerships That Turned the Test

The recovery was built on two crucial stands with the lower order. Hridoy added 117 runs with Taijul Islam for the eighth wicket. He then shared an 85-run partnership with Taskin Ahmed for the ninth.

Those stands lifted Bangladesh from 184-7 to 386 all out. That was enough for a 30-run first-innings lead that few would have predicted earlier in the day.

Praise From Both Dressing Rooms

Even the opposition captain was left impressed. West Indies skipper Jomel Warrican admitted his side had the upper hand before Hridoy changed the course of the game.

“We were in the ascendancy and things were going our way, but Hridoy batted well. The way he batted was special. We have to give him credit,” Warrican said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons highlighted Hridoy’s maturity and decision-making. He pointed to the way the youngster chose when to attack and when to protect the lower-order batters.

“It’s an unbelievable innings in the end even when they were out on the boundary, he was still able to find boundaries and hit sixes. Even when he started getting tired coming closer to the double hundred. But it was just an outstanding effort from him in all aspects,” Simmons said.

Taking Charge When It Mattered

Simmons also said the innings was exactly what the team management had asked of its players. When an opportunity arrives, he said, you take charge and do what the team needs.

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

Why This Innings Matters

This was more than a record. It was a match-shifting knock played under pressure by a player with just three Tests behind him.

Hridoy has now set a new benchmark for Bangladesh batters in whites. His blend of composure and fearless stroke play suggests a bright future for the Tigers’ middle order.

With a first-innings lead in hand, Bangladesh now hold the momentum in the second and final Test. West Indies will need a strong response to claw their way back into the contest.