Towhid hridoy makes history with triple century in South Africa

Towhid Hridoy has created history by scoring a triple century in first-class cricket as the first Bangladeshi batsman on foreign soil. The middle-order batter of Bangladesh made history against the host South Africa ‘A’ team in Potchefstroom of South Africa on Wednesday.

Towhid’s innings of 300 runs is not only a new record for Bangladesh on foreign soil, but also a new landmark of the highest individual score in first-class cricket for Bangladesh ‘A’ team. Earlier, Shahriar Hossain Bidyut had scored 218 runs against the Defence Housing Committee team in Karachi in 2003. That remained the highest innings by any batter of Bangladesh ‘A’ team for 23 years.

Towhid, who completed a double century the previous day, surpassed Shahriar in the first session of the day on Wednesday. After that he did not stop. He reached the milestone of three hundred runs in the second session. He completed the triple century with the help of 25 fours and six sixes off 450 balls.

Towhid, who was on 298, completed 300 by taking two runs playing a shot on the on-side off the ball of pacer Boost. He expressed gratitude to the Creator by raising the bat in the historic moment. After that he went into sijda. When teammates rushed to congratulate him, Towhid accepted that greeting with a smiling face.

With this innings, Towhid’s name has also been added to the list of batters who have scored a triple century in Bangladesh’s first-class cricket. Earlier, Tamim Iqbal and Rakibul Hasan had crossed 300 in domestic cricket. Tamim scored 334 runs for East Zone in BCL in the 2019-20 season. Before that, 313 runs had come from Rakibul’s bat for Barishal Division against Sylhet Division in the 2006-07 season.

However, the biggest aspect of Towhid’s feat is that this is the first triple century by any Bangladeshi batter outside the country. Earlier, only one among foreign cricketers had been able to create this feat. The determination and concentration that Towhid has shown by staying at the wicket for a long time and dealing with the opposition bowlers will remain a big proof of his ability through this innings.

Towhid is now at the top in the list of highest individual scores in first-class cricket for Bangladesh ‘A’ team; Towhid Hridoy 300, Shahriar Hossain 218, Javed Omar 173, Zakir Hasan 173 and Jaker Ali 172 runs.