Towhid Hridoy's unbeaten 242: Bangladesh's highest-ever Test score
Synopsis
In just his third Test match, 25-year-old Towhid Hridoy batted Bangladesh out of a crisis — walking in at 51 for 3 and finishing unbeaten on 242, the highest score ever by a Bangladesh cricketer in Tests. The knock surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim's six-year-old record and handed Bangladesh a 30-run first-innings lead against West Indies in Sylhet.
Key Takeaways
Towhid Hridoy scored an unbeaten 242 for Bangladesh against West Indies at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on 8 November 2026 .
The innings is the highest individual Test score in Bangladesh's history, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten 219 against Zimbabwe in 2018 .
Hridoy walked in at 51 for 3 and steered Bangladesh to a 30-run first-innings lead over West Indies' 356 .
Key lower-order partnerships: 73 runs with Mushfiqur (4th wicket), 117 runs with Taijul Islam (8th wicket), 85 runs with Taskin Ahmed (9th wicket).
It was only Hridoy's third Test match and just the second time a Bangladesh batter has scored a Test double century.
Towhid Hridoy on Sunday, 8 November 2026 said it had been a lifelong dream to score the highest individual Test innings by a Bangladesh cricketer, a day after his unbeaten 242 rewrote the national record books at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium during the second Test against the West Indies. The knock, played in only his third Test match, surpassed the previous national best and announced Hridoy as one of Bangladesh's most compelling batting talents.
The Record-Breaking Innings
Hridoy's unbeaten 242 eclipsed veteran wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten 219 against Zimbabwe in the 2018 Mirpur Test, which had stood as Bangladesh's highest individual Test score for over six years. The 25-year-old walked in with his side in trouble at 51 for 3, chasing West Indies' first-innings total of 356, and refused to yield even as wickets fell around him.
How the Innings Unfolded
Hridoy first steadied the ship with a 73-run fourth-wicket partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim, the very man whose record he would eventually break. He then forged a crucial 117-run eighth-wicket stand with Taijul Islam, who contributed 22, before Taskin Ahmed held firm for an 85-run ninth-wicket partnership — adding 12 of his own. Those lower-order alliances not only carried Hridoy past the record but also handed Bangladesh a 30-run first-innings lead.
What Hridoy Said
'Definitely, it was a dream of mine, to be very honest. I'm delighted that it has come true, and perhaps a little earlier than I expected. I'm grateful for everything,' Hridoy told broadcasters ahead of day four of the Test. He also paid tribute to the support he received from the tail. 'Taijul and Taskin played really well. The way they supported me gave me a lot of confidence,' he said. On his broader approach, Hridoy added: 'When you play Test cricket professionally, you have to do your best for the team. Whenever you get an opportunity, you have to make the most of it.'
Significance and Context
Notably, Hridoy achieved this milestone in just his third Test appearance — a remarkable statistic that underlines the pressure he absorbed in Sylhet. Bangladesh have historically struggled in the lower half of their batting order in Tests, making a tail-anchoring double century all the more striking. This is only the second time a Bangladesh batter has crossed 200 in Test cricket, following Mushfiqur's effort in 2018, cementing the innings as a watershed moment for the country's red-ball batting pedigree.
What Happens Next
With a 30-run first-innings lead secured heading into day four, Bangladesh are well placed to press for a potentially series-levelling result against the West Indies in Sylhet. Hridoy, who expressed no personal target beyond serving the team's needs, will be central to Bangladesh's ambitions as the match enters its decisive phase.
Point of View
Or the lack of it. That their two highest Test scores have both required a batter to anchor a crisis rather than build from a position of strength is telling. The dependence on individual heroism, rather than collective batting reliability, remains Bangladesh's red-ball Achilles heel. Hridoy's knock buys time, but the blueprint it reveals — tail-rescue double centuries as a survival mechanism — should prompt honest questions from team management about their Test batting culture and selection philosophy.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Towhid Hridoy set in the Sylhet Test?
Towhid Hridoy scored an unbeaten 242 for Bangladesh against West Indies at Sylhet, becoming the highest individual Test scorer in Bangladesh's history. He surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim's previous record of an unbeaten 219, made against Zimbabwe in the 2018 Mirpur Test.
How many Test matches had Hridoy played before this innings?
The Sylhet Test was only Towhid Hridoy's third Test match. The 25-year-old achieved the national record in just his third appearance in the longest format of the game.
What was the match situation when Hridoy came in to bat?
Bangladesh were in trouble at 51 for 3 in their first innings when Hridoy came to the crease, chasing West Indies' first-innings total of 356. He remained unbeaten on 242, helping Bangladesh to a 30-run lead.
Who supported Hridoy with key partnerships during his innings?
Hridoy shared a 73-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim for the fourth wicket, a 117-run stand with Taijul Islam for the eighth wicket, and an 85-run partnership with Taskin Ahmed for the ninth wicket. Taijul made 22 and Taskin contributed 12.
How significant is Hridoy's double century in the history of Bangladesh Test cricket?
It is only the second time a Bangladesh batter has scored a double century in Tests, following Mushfiqur Rahim's effort in 2018. The knock is widely regarded as one of the most important innings in Bangladesh's red-ball history given the match situation in which it was played.
