Towhid Hridoy's 242 sets highest-ever Bangladesh Test record in Sylhet
Synopsis
Playing only his third Test match, Towhid Hridoy smashed an unbeaten 242 in Sylhet to become the highest scorer in Bangladesh Test history, erasing Mushfiqur Rahim's eight-year-old record. The innings single-handedly rescued Bangladesh from 51 for 3 and handed them a 30-run first-innings lead over the West Indies — a stunning individual effort with two days still to play.
Key Takeaways
Towhid Hridoy scored an unbeaten 242 off 359 balls against the West Indies at Sylhet on 7 November 2026 .
He surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim's eight-year-old record of 219* (vs Zimbabwe, 2018) to set the highest-ever Bangladesh Test score.
Hridoy became only the fourth Bangladesh cricketer to hit a Test double century and the first to convert a maiden hundred into a double hundred.
He walked in at 51 for 3 and carried Bangladesh to 386 all out , giving them a 30-run first-innings lead over the West Indies' 356 .
The innings contained 22 fours and 11 sixes ; no other Bangladesh batter scored more than 50 .
This was only Hridoy's third Test match .
Towhid Hridoy rewrote Bangladesh cricket history on Saturday, 7 November 2026, smashing an unbeaten 242 off 359 balls against the West Indies at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium — the highest individual score ever made by a Bangladesh batter in Test cricket. The knock came in the second Test between the two sides and lifted Bangladesh from the depths of 51 for 3 to a first-innings total of 386, earning them a 30-run lead.
A Record Eight Years in the Making
Hridoy surpassed the previous Bangladesh Test record of 219 not out, held by veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim set during the 2018 Mirpur Test against Zimbabwe. He reached the milestone with a boundary off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican in the 106th over of the innings, the same delivery that also levelled Bangladesh's score with the West Indies' first-innings total of 356. The record had stood for eight years before Hridoy erased it on Day 3 of the contest.
Bangladesh's Fourth Double-Centurion
With his 242, Hridoy became only the fourth Bangladesh cricketer to register a double century in Test cricket. Notably, he also became the first Bangladesh batter to convert a maiden Test hundred directly into a double hundred. The innings was decorated with 22 fours and 11 sixes, reflecting both discipline and controlled aggression across a marathon stay at the crease.
A Rescue Act on Only His Third Test
What makes the feat even more remarkable is the context. Hridoy walked in at No. 4 after Bangladesh lost Nayeem Hasan (5), Tanzid Hasan Tamim (16), and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (18) in quick succession to leave the hosts reeling. With the team in trouble, he first steadied the innings with a 73-run fourth-wicket stand alongside Mushfiqur Rahim, before a crucial 117-run eighth-wicket partnership with Taijul Islam (22) extended Bangladesh's lead. No other Bangladesh batter crossed 50 in the innings, underscoring just how central Hridoy was to the total. This was only his third Test match.
Match Situation After Day 3
Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 386, taking a 30-run first-innings lead over the West Indies' 356. Shadman Islam, who had been stretchered off on Day 2 with an ankle injury, did not bat. With more than two days still remaining in the match, Bangladesh are well-placed to push for a result. This sets up what could be a compelling finish in Sylhet, with the hosts holding the upper hand heading into the final phase of the game.
Point of View
But here was a 24-year-old, in only his third Test, dismantling an eight-year record on his own. The fact that no teammate crossed 50 makes the innings more revealing, not less: it shows both Hridoy's exceptional quality and Bangladesh's continuing dependence on a single batter in crises. The match situation — a 30-run lead with two days left — now creates a genuine opportunity for Bangladesh to press home an advantage, but converting that platform into a Test win will require a collective effort the top order has yet to demonstrate this series.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Towhid Hridoy break in the Sylhet Test?
Towhid Hridoy broke the record for the highest individual score by a Bangladesh batter in Test cricket, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim's 219 not out made against Zimbabwe in Mirpur in 2018. Hridoy's unbeaten 242 in the second Test against the West Indies in Sylhet is now the highest-ever Bangladesh Test score.
How did Bangladesh perform in their first innings against the West Indies?
Bangladesh were bowled out for 386, taking a 30-run first-innings lead over the West Indies' 356. The total was built almost entirely on Hridoy's 242 not out, as no other Bangladesh batter crossed 50 in the innings.
How many Bangladesh cricketers have scored a Test double century?
Towhid Hridoy became only the fourth Bangladesh cricketer to score a double century in Tests. He is also the first Bangladesh batter to convert a maiden Test hundred directly into a double hundred.
What was the match situation when Hridoy came in to bat?
Hridoy came to the crease with Bangladesh struggling at 51 for 3, having lost Nayeem Hasan (5), Tanzid Hasan Tamim (16), and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (18). He steadied the innings with a 73-run stand alongside Mushfiqur Rahim before a 117-run eighth-wicket partnership with Taijul Islam extended the total.
How many Tests had Hridoy played before this record innings?
The Sylhet Test was only Towhid Hridoy's third Test match, making his record-breaking 242 all the more remarkable. He finished unbeaten on 242 off 359 balls, hitting 22 fours and 11 sixes.
