4 times when a Bangladeshi batsman scored double hundred in Test cricket

Mushfiqur Rahim, the right-handed middle-order batsman from Bangladesh, recently hit the fourth double-ton for Bangladesh in Test cricket. He is the only batsman from Bangladesh to have hit two double centuries in Test cricket. The other batsmen to have scored double-ton for Bangladesh in Tests are Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.

On his way to the record-breaking double ton, Rahim registered a record fourth-wicket stand of 266 runs with Mominul Haque, who also played a watchful knock of 161 runs in the second Test of the series against Zimbabwe. The partnership helped Bangladesh recover from a precarious situation. The home team had lost three early wickets for just 26 runs. Kayle Jarvis, Zimbabwe's pacer, took two of Bangladesh’s first three wickets.

Bangladesh batsmen are often criticized for not putting a price on their wickets in Test matches. But Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque have been writing different pieces of stories over the years.

On that note, let us have a look at the four instances when a Bangladesh batsman struck double-ton in Test cricket.

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#4 Mushfiqur Rahim (219* against Zimbabwe at Dhaka, 2018)

Mushfiqur Rahim, the lynchpin of Bangladesh batting lineup, struck the fourth double-ton in Test for the Tigers. He arrived at the crease in a tricky situation when Bangladesh had lost three early wickets. Kyle Jarvis, the leader of Zimbabwe's bowling attack had struck early and removed both the openers quite cheaply.

Rahim came in the middle and stitched a record partnership with Mominul Haque. Mominul got dismissed after scoring 161 on the first day of the Test, but Mushfiq remained undefeated and completed his second dobule-ton on the second day of the match.

The right-handed batsman is now the only wicketkeeper-batsman to have scored more than one double-ton in the history of Test cricket. And at the same time, Rahim is now the highest individual Test runs getter for the Tigers.

The right-handed batsman also bettered Shakib Al Hasan's 217 which was scored against New Zealand at Wellington in 2017.

#3 Shakib Al Hasan (217 against New Zealand at Wellington, 2017)

New Zealand v Bangladesh - 1st Test: Day 2

Shakib Al Hasan, the finest cricketer to have represented Bangladesh, struck the third Test double-ton for Bangladesh. He smashed 217 against New Zealand at Wellington in 2017.

After being sent in to bat first, Bangladesh declared their first inning at a massive score of 595/8. Shakib scored 217 off 276 balls which was the highest individual Test score by a Bangladeshi batsman at that point in time. He smashed 31 fours in the process.

Mushfiqur Rahim was another batsman in that match who also hit a century. The right-handed batsman scored 159 runs, and in the process, the duo stitched together a 356-runs stand for the fifth wicket.

New Zealand replied with 539 runs in their first innings. In their second innings, Bangladesh were dismissed for just 160 runs. New Zealand chased down the fourth innings total of 217 quite comfortably.

Despite posting a challenging first innings total on the board, Bangladesh lost the match.

#2 Tamim Iqbal (206 against Pakistan in Khulna, 2015)

New Zealand v Bangladesh - 1st Test: Day 1

Tamim Iqbal, the highest run scorer for Bangladesh in Test cricket, is currently recovering from a wrist injury. The southpaw was the second batsman to hit a double-ton in Test cricket for the Tigers. He is Bangladesh's first batsman to hit a double ton on home ground.

The Test was Pakistan's first appearance in Khulna. Having won the toss, Bangladesh chose to bat first posted 332 runs in their first innings. Mominul top scored with 80 runs while Imrul Kayes chipped in with 51 runs. Pakistan replied with a total of 628 runs on the back of a double ton from Mohammad Hafeez.

In the second innings, Bangladesh started brilliantly with a record opening stand of 312 runs. While Imrul Kayes hit 150, Tamim registered Bangladesh's first ever Test double-ton at home.

Tamim hit 17 fours and seven sixes during his innings of 206 runs.

#1 Mushfiqur Rahim (200 against Sri Lanka, 2013)

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Ashraful at Galle in 2013

Can a Bangladesh batsman score a double-ton in Test cricket? It was a 13-year-old question when Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka in 2013. Mushfiqur Rahim was the batsman to answer it for the first time as he hit Bangladesh’s first ever Test double-ton in Galle.

As a matter of fact, Mohammad Ashraful was dismissed for 190 runs in the same inning of the match. He lost the chance of becoming the first Bangladeshi to hit a double ton in Test cricket.

Sri Lanka batted first in the match and set a challenging score of 570 runs. Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal hit centuries for the hosts. Bangladesh replied with 638 as Mushfiqur Rahim hit the long-awaited double-ton for the Tigers. He hit 22 fours and one six during his 437 minutes stay at the crease. Nasir Hossain also hit a ton in that inning.