West Indies, fielding a below-par side in the first Test of the two-match series, against Bangladesh at Chattogram, earned an amazing and historic upset win over an almost full-strength home side.
Thanks to Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 103 and half-centuries from Shadman Islam and Shakib-Al-Hasan, Bangladesh made 430 in the first innings, batting first after winning the toss. In reply, West Indies made 259 with captain Kraigg Brathwaite making 76 and Jermaine Blackwood making 68.
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque made 115 and Liton Das made 69, as Bangladesh put up 223/8d in the second innings and posted a 395-run target for West Indies. Mehidy Hasan Miraz had a field day in the match, making a century and picking 8 wickets as well.
Though a stiff target, West Indies’ debutants came forth in leading the chase. Nkrumah Bonner made 86 and added 216 runs with Kyle Mayers for the 4th wicket. Other batsmen helped with cameos, but it was Mayers, who scored a brilliant double-ton on debut.
Mayers ended up with 210* (20 fours, 7 sixes, 310 balls), becoming the first batsman with a double-century in the fourth innings of a Test on debut. He helped West Indies winning the Test by 3 wickets, as the visitors went 1-0 up in the series.
Mayers' double century was only the second to come in a successful chase in a Test match, the first being Gordon Greenidge's 214* against England at Lord's in 1984. Mayers was also the sixth batsman to score a double-ton on Test debut and the first in the history of Tests to do so in the 4th innings of a Test.
The cricket fraternity was in awe of Mayers’ amazing batting and his record-making score and lauded him whole-heartedly on Twitter.
Here are the tweets:
