Photo: Kyle Mayers scored an unbeaten 210 on debut as the West Indies beat Bangladesh by three wickets in the first Test at Chattogram today. (Getty Images)
Test debutant Kyle Mayers wrote himself into the history books when he scored a magnificent, stroke-filled 210 not out to rescue the West Indies from the brink of defeat and led them to a 1-0 lead in the two match series against Bangladesh in Chattogram, on Sunday.
The hosts had dominated the match for the first four days and seemed on course to secure a routine win, before Mayers stamped his class on the game on the fifth and final day, to ensure a famous victory for the West Indies as they pulled of the fifth highest run chase in Test cricket history to win by three wickets.
The West Indies began the day on 110 for 3, still needing 285 more runs to win with only seven second innings wickets in hand. But Mayers and fellow Test debutant Nkrumah Bonner (86) batted through the first two sessions of the day in a partnership worth 216 runs for the fourth wicket.
The West Indies began the final session of the match still needing all of 129 runs to win and when Bonner went in the first over after Tea, followed quickly by Jermaine Blackwood, the odds swung heavily in favour of Bangladesh.
But with the hard hitting Mayers still at the crease the visitors were still in with a shout and he found a useful partner in wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva as the two took the West Indies within touching distance of the target before Da Silva fell for 20 with only three more runs left to secure win after a partnership of 100 runs. Mayers duly obliged when he scored the winning run at 395/7
Mayers knock contained 20 fours and 7 sixes from 310 deliveries faced in a marathon innings of grit, determination and power hitting. He became the first batsman to score a double century in the fourth innings of a Test match on debut.
Finals scores in the match were, Bangladesh 430 & 223/8 declared, West Indies 259 & 395/7.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login