Towhid Hridoy scores 350* to become first Bangladeshi batter to cross the landmark in first-class cricket

Bangladesh A captain Towhid Hridoy etched his name into the record books on Wednesday, September 2, becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to reach 350 in a first-class innings. He achieved the milestone on the fourth and final day of the second four-day match against South Africa A, playing at NWC Oval in Potchefstroom.

Having resumed his innings on 204 overnight, Hridoy batted through to finish unbeaten on 350 off 481 balls, striking 27 fours and 10 sixes. The knock made him only the third Bangladeshi to post a triple century in first-class cricket, moving past both Raqibul Hasan’s unbeaten 313 and Tamim Iqbal’s unbeaten 334 to claim the highest individual first-class score by a Bangladeshi batter.

Beyond the national record, the innings holds considerable significance in a South African context as well. Hridoy’s 350 is the best score ever made by a visiting batter on South African soil, and he is only the second player to reach that mark in a first-class innings in the country, after Stephen Cook’s 390.

The match itself ended in a draw. Bangladesh declared their first innings at 676 for eight, establishing a 164-run lead over South Africa A, who had posted 512 in their first innings. South Africa A were 18 without loss in their second innings when both sides agreed to call off the contest. Despite the draw, South Africa A claimed the two-match series 1-0, having won the opening game in Pretoria by an innings and 413 runs.

What does this innings mean to Hridoy personally?

The setting added a layer of personal meaning to an already historic performance. Six and a half years earlier, Hridoy had been part of the Bangladesh side that lifted the Under-19 World Cup at the very same venue in Potchefstroom. His unbeaten 350 at NWC Oval therefore represents a remarkable full circle, and he also becomes the first Bangladeshi batter to score a first-class triple century away from home.

“To be honest this innings gave me a lot of confidence. After picking the Man of the Match trophy I was feeling that someday I will play an innings like this in the national team,” Hridoy was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

How did Tamim Iqbal react to his record being broken?

Tamim Iqbal, the former Bangladesh captain and current BCB president whose unbeaten 334 had long stood as the national benchmark, was among the first to acknowledge the achievement.

“Scoring a 350-run innings anywhere, at any level and in any context, is a remarkable achievement. But if that innings comes in South Africa, it has to be described as extraordinary,” Tamim wrote on Facebook.

Tamim also addressed the fact that his own record had been surpassed with characteristic grace.

“They say records are meant to be broken. I am very happy that my record has been broken. Congratulations to Towhid Hridoy on making history. Becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to reach 350 is not just a personal achievement; it is also a symbol of the progress of cricket in the country,” he added.

Attention now shifts to the limited-overs leg of the tour. Bangladesh A and South Africa A are scheduled to meet in a three-match one-day series, with the opening fixture set for Bloemfontein on September 6.