'350 is chaseable' - Towhid Hridoy backs Bangladesh ahead of final day against West Indies

At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Towhid Hridoy's unbeaten 242 proved instrumental in Bangladesh's first-innings total of 386, establishing a 30-run lead over West Indies' initial 356. By the close of Day 4, the visitors had progressed to 345 for 3 in their second innings, with Kavem Hodge unbeaten on 140 and Amir Jangoo contributing 20, extending their overall advantage to 315 runs heading into the final day of the second Test.

Hridoy's substantial contribution shaped Bangladesh's response to West Indies' first-innings score. The 23-year-old batter from Dhaka assessed the pitch conditions and expressed confidence in his team's ability to pursue a target of 350, provided they executed a strong batting performance from the opening session onwards.

"Look, it will depend on how we start. The wicket is still good. If we can start well first, then I think it's possible to chase. But it's still not possible to say what will happen tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll have to see how many runs they target, then we'll plan accordingly," Hridoy was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Hridoy emphasised the critical importance of early momentum on the final day. He reiterated his assessment of the pitch and stressed that a positive start would be the determining factor in any successful pursuit of the target.

"So far, it's batting-friendly. The fifth day tomorrow is definitely a very important day. What I feel, as I said before, the start is very important. If we can start well, 350, I think, is chaseable. But as I said repeatedly, the start is very important," Hridoy added.

How does Hridoy view the criticism he faced?

Hridoy's match-winning performance drew attention following criticism he had faced for his shot selection during the opening Test. He addressed the scrutiny directly, viewing it as an integral part of professional sport and an opportunity for personal development.

"First I want to say thanks to Allah that I was able to contribute to the team. Criticism, that will always be there. In your profession or any profession, there will be criticism. The day we do well, you are always the ones who speak for us, speak positively. The day we do badly, you will be the ones to say it, that's very normal. So, what I feel is that there is a lot to learn from criticism if I think about it in the right way," he added.

Beyond his current match performance, Hridoy recently surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim's previous record to become Bangladesh's highest individual scorer across Test cricket history. He reflected on this milestone with humility, emphasising his focus on supporting the team's objectives rather than pursuing personal statistical achievements.

"It (being the highest scorer in Test cricket) was my destiny. I didn't actually think about who I was surpassing or what would happen. In that situation, what I felt was that I tried to fight as much as possible for the team to take them to a good position. “Everyone is very happy, Alhamdulillah. Mushfiq Bhai was also very happy, and Mushfiq Bhai is not just happy for me, he is always very happy and supportive whenever any player in the team performs, whether it's a batsman or a bowler," Hridoy said.