Hridoy joins Mushfiq and Shakib as only Bangladeshis with double centuries abroad
Bangladesh 'A' captain Towhid Hridoy struck a brilliant unbeaten double century against South Africa 'A' on the third day of the second four day match at the NWC Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday, dragging his side to the brink of the hosts' first innings total.
Resuming on 201 for four with Hridoy unbeaten overnight on 75, the innings continued in determined fashion as Bangladesh worked to recover from early pressure after South Africa A had posted 512 in their first innings.
Hridoy brought up his century in 166 balls, striking 13 fours and a six along the way, before pushing on to complete his double hundred off 335 deliveries, finishing the milestone with 22 fours and a single maximum to his name.
It marked the second first class double century of Hridoy's own career, having previously scored 217 for BCB South Zone against North Zone in Chattogram, and it also made him just the second Bangladesh 'A' batter ever to reach the landmark, following Bidyut's 218 against Defence Housing Authority in Pakistan back in 2003.
The 24 year old also joined an elite group of Bangladeshi batters to score first class double centuries on foreign soil, alongside Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan. Mushfiqur made an unbeaten 200 in 2013 and Shakib struck 217 in 2017, both achieving the feat in Test matches for the national side.
Jaker Ali, batting alongside Hridoy at the start of the day, fell agonisingly short of his own century, dismissed for 94 off 168 balls after the second new ball was taken, bowled by pacer Moreki having dragged one onto his stumps. His stand with Hridoy had added 151 valuable runs.
Hridoy found a new partner in Mohammad Saifuddin, and the pair added 185 more for the fifth wicket before Saifuddin fell for 87 off 171 balls with the very last delivery of the day, having also flirted with a century of his own.
Bangladesh 'A' closed the day on 471 for six, with Hridoy unbeaten on 204, leaving the tourists just 41 runs behind South Africa 'A's first innings total heading into the fourth day of the contest.