Towhid Hridoy continued his remarkable match with the bat, moving closer to another century as Bangladesh kept their hopes of a series-levelling victory alive against West Indies in the second and final Test in Sylhet on Monday.
Bangladesh reached 162-2 at tea on the final day, still needing 207 runs from a maximum of 35 overs to chase down the target of 369, with the possibility of fewer overs if the light deteriorates. Hridoy was unbeaten on 82, while Mushfiqur Rahim had made 40, the pair adding an unbroken 122 for the third wicket.
Hridoy, who struck an unbeaten 242 in the first innings, moved past Mominul Haque’s previous record for the most runs by a Bangladesh batter in a Test match. Mominul had scored 281 against Sri Lanka in Chattogram in 2018, with centuries in both innings. Hridoy also became the first Bangladeshi to score a double-century and a half-century in the same Test.
Mushfiqur, meanwhile, added another landmark to his career, becoming the first Bangladesh batter to reach 7,000 runs in Test cricket.
The pair came together after Bangladesh lost two wickets before lunch in their pursuit of the imposing target. Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto both fell to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, leaving the hosts in a difficult position before Hridoy and Mushfiqur steadied the innings.
Tanzid, who had managed only two runs from his first 16 deliveries, began to counterattack and scored 19 from his next 15 balls. But after hitting a boundary towards deep midwicket, he fell attempting another aggressive stroke, with Joshua Da Silva taking the catch off Warrican.
Shanto was trapped lbw by the same bowler just before the interval. The Bangladesh captain missed a delivery that turned sharply, and West Indies successfully reviewed the on-field decision.
Earlier in the day, West Indies added 53 runs to their overnight total before declaring on 398-6, setting Bangladesh a target of 369. Joshua Bishop struck two sixes and a four in his 11-ball 20 not out, while Amir Jangoo remained unbeaten on 39 from 74 deliveries.
Kavem Hodge, who had resumed unbeaten on 140, added just two before Nayeem Hasan had him caught at deep fine leg attempting a pull. Justin Greaves was trapped lbw by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for nine, while Nayeem removed Shamar Joseph for one after the tailender attempted to clear the long-on boundary.
Bangladesh had taken a 30-run first-innings lead after making 386 in reply to West Indies’ 356. The visitors won the opening Test in Mirpur by eight wickets and lead the two-match series 1-0.
