Mushfiq not unhappy to lose his record as Hridoy's innings raises hopes

Before the ongoing Sylhet Test against West Indies, the highest individual innings by a Bangladeshi batter in the format belonged to Mushfiqur Rahim. His record of 219 runs was broken yesterday (Saturday) by Towhid Hridoy. Mushfiq witnessed the moment from the dressing room, but he is not unhappy about losing the record.

Like in Dhaka, Bangladesh were sinking in the Sylhet Test too. Standing amid the ruins against the Caribbean side, Hridoy played a heroic innings that brought the hosts back into the fight. With the last two tail-enders, he added 202 runs to the team total, taking Bangladesh — who had been in danger of the follow-on — past the visitors' total and into a 30-run lead.

Reaching his double century off 304 balls, Hridoy turned his maiden century into a double hundred. He finished unbeaten on 242 off 359 balls — now the highest individual Test innings by a Bangladeshi.

Hridoy's stirring innings is naturally the talk of the country's sporting world. For Mushfiq, losing his record has brought not regret but greater hope. In a video published by the BCB, the star — the only Bangladeshi with multiple Test double centuries (three) — can be heard telling Hridoy, 'Make it (the innings) even bigger, even bigger.'

Speaking later about his teammate's heroic innings, Mushfiq said, 'I consider myself fortunate. Watching my highest score being broken right before my eyes from the dressing room is a great privilege. I hope that next time someone else will break this record too. Records are made to be broken. And if the innings that breaks the record also brings the team victory, that is an even greater feeling.'

'His (Hridoy's) innings was very important for our team. But I hope it turns out to be a match-winning innings,' added Mr Dependable.

Before Hridoy, five double centuries had come from the bats of three Bangladeshi cricketers: Mushfiqur Rahim with three, and Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal with one each. Towhid Hridoy is the newest name on that elite list of double-centurions.

Before the Sylhet Test, Hridoy had scored 54 runs in four innings in his Test career. In Sylhet, he introduced himself anew. Whether the innings that lifted Bangladesh back into the match affects the result remains to be seen.