Mushfiqur Rahim creates new record for Bangladesh in Mirpur Test against West Indies

Mushfiqur Rahim created a new record in the second and final Test against West Indies in Mirpur by becoming only the second Bangladesh player to reach 4000 runs in Test cricket. The wicketkeeper-batsman reached the landmark when he cut West Indies legspinner Devendra Bishoo to point for a quick single. The right-hander joined Tamim Iqbal as the other Bangladesh batsman to reach the 4000-run club for the country. However, Rahim’s innings was cut short by a wonderful delivery from pacer Sherman Lewis and was bowled for 14. Bangladesh, though, made great progress with Shakib Al Hasan blasting 80 but Mahmudullah’s 136 and Liton Das’ 54 helped the hosts reach 508 all out. In response, West Indies were struggling at 75/5 with Mehidy Hasan taking three wickets.

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Rahim holds several records in Bangladesh cricket in addition to his 4000 milestone. He has the highest individual score by a Bangladesh player in Tests and he achieved it recently in the Mirpur Test against Zimbabwe in 2018. Rahim is the only Bangladesh player to hit two double centuries in Tests. Among wicketkeepers, he is 10^th in the all-time list for most runs in Tests. Adam Gilchrist leads the pack with 5570 runs at an average of 47.

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Tamim had become the first Bangladesh player to reach 4000 Test runs when Bangladesh had toured West Indies earlier in the year.  Rahim is the only wicketkeeper in history to hit two double centuries and was the first Bangladesh player to hit a double ton in Tests, which he achieved against Sri Lanka in 2013.

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Bangladesh leads the two-match series 1-0 after registering a tense win in the first Test at Chittagong. Incidentally, the win at the Zahur Ahmed Choudhary stadium was Bangladesh’s first win in Tests at home against the West Indies and they are now in a great position to win a series against the Windies for only the second time, having first won in 2009.