Towhid Hridoy has rewritten Bangladesh’s first-class record books with a monumental unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in Potchefstroom. His career-defining innings surpassed Tamim Iqbal’s previous national record and made Hridoy the first Bangladeshi to score a first-class triple century outside the country.
Towhid Hridoy 350 sets new Bangladesh record
Hridoy remained unbeaten on 350 from 481 deliveries as Bangladesh A declared their first innings at 676 for eight. His marathon knock contained 27 fours and 10 sixes and helped the visitors establish a 164-run first-innings lead after South Africa A had posted 512.
The innings moved Hridoy past Tamim Iqbal’s unbeaten 334, previously the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi batter. Raqibul Hasan’s 313 not out is the other triple century recorded by a Bangladesh player, making Hridoy only the third batter from the country to cross the 300-run mark in first-class cricket.
Triple century changes Hridoy’s red-ball reputation
The performance carries added significance because Hridoy has built much of his reputation through limited-overs cricket. His 350 demonstrated the concentration and patience required to bat for nearly 500 deliveries while still maintaining the ability to accelerate when opportunities appeared.
Hridoy had already reached 204 not out before the final day and continued batting even as wickets fell around him. After Bangladesh A lost their eighth wicket with Hridoy on 225, Rejaur Rahman Raja provided crucial support, finishing unbeaten on 31 from 110 balls as the pair carried the innings to the declaration.
The knock also made Hridoy the first Bangladeshi to score a first-class triple century on foreign soil, adding another distinction to an already historic performance.
Bangladesh A take control before match ends drawn
South Africa A had built a formidable first-innings total of 512, but Hridoy’s innings transformed the match. Bangladesh A responded with 676 for eight declared, taking a sizeable lead before time became the decisive factor.
South Africa A reached 18 without loss in their second innings before the teams settled for a draw. Although Bangladesh A could not force a victory, Hridoy’s record-breaking performance became the defining story of the four-day contest.
Tamim Iqbal celebrates record being broken
Hridoy’s achievement also drew praise from Tamim Iqbal, whose national first-class record had stood for years. Tamim welcomed the milestone and described a 350-run innings in South African conditions as an extraordinary achievement, saying records are meant to be broken.
For Hridoy, the innings could prove important beyond the record itself. A batter widely associated with white-ball cricket has now produced one of the longest and most accomplished first-class innings by any Bangladeshi player.
His unbeaten 350 has not only placed his name at the top of Bangladesh’s first-class batting list; it has also strengthened the case that Hridoy can become a major red-ball player for his country.
