Towhid Hridoy has given Bangladesh cricket a new batting record to celebrate. The right-hander smashed an unbeaten 350 against South Africa A in Potchefstroom, moving past Tamim Iqbal’s long-standing mark for the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi batter.

Hridoy reached the landmark during Bangladesh A’s unofficial Test at the NWC Oval, turning what had already been a big innings into a piece of cricket history. His score of 350 not out came from 481 deliveries and included a combination of patience and controlled aggression.

The previous record belonged to Tamim, whose unbeaten 334 had stood as Bangladesh’s highest individual first-class score. Hridoy eventually went past that mark and continued batting until he reached 350, setting a new benchmark for Bangladesh’s domestic and representative first-class cricket.

Raqibul Hasan’s unbeaten 313 was another notable score on the previous list. Hridoy’s innings has now pushed the record well beyond the 300-run mark.

What made the performance stand out was the sheer amount of time Hridoy spent at the crease. A batter better known to many fans for his white-ball performances showed that he could also handle the demands of a long first-class innings. He faced nearly 500 deliveries, constantly having to reset and maintain his concentration.

The innings also carried a personal connection to Potchefstroom. Hridoy had played at the same venue during Bangladesh’s memorable Under-19 World Cup campaign in 2020. That tournament ended with Bangladesh winning their first global cricket title at youth level.

More than six years later, Hridoy returned to the ground and produced another memorable performance.

His 350 also put him in an exclusive category in South African first-class cricket. He became the first Bangladeshi batter to score a first-class triple century outside Bangladesh and only the second overseas batter to make a first-class triple century in South Africa.

The achievement is particularly significant considering Hridoy’s development as a cricketer. Since making his international debut in 2023, he has largely established himself as a white-ball batter for Bangladesh. His aggressive approach has often been one of his biggest strengths.

This innings offered something different.

Hridoy had to build his score over a much longer period, resist the temptation to attack every delivery and repeatedly start again after reaching major milestones. Reaching 100 is one challenge; turning that into 200 and then 300 requires a completely different level of concentration.

The record-breaking knock also attracted attention from Tamim Iqbal, whose previous record Hridoy had overtaken. The former Bangladesh captain congratulated the younger batter after his mark was broken.

The moment for Hridoy, this represents another important step in a career that has moved quickly. He has already become a familiar face in Bangladesh’s limited-overs sides and has also started gaining opportunities in Test cricket.

His first-class performance against South Africa A now gives him another strong argument for a larger role across formats.

There was also an important leadership element to the innings. Hridoy was captaining Bangladesh A in the unofficial Test, meaning his contribution came with added responsibility. Rather than simply producing a big individual score, he had to manage his own innings while leading the team through a competitive match.

The timing of the performance is also interesting for Bangladesh. The team has been looking for players capable of making the transition from white-ball cricket to the longer format. Hridoy’s 350 suggests that he has the temperament required for that challenge.

The record may have come with a huge number attached to it, but the innings was built one delivery at a time. Hridoy’s ability to remain at the crease for 481 balls showed a side of his batting that international cricket has not always had the opportunity to see. Tamim Iqbal’s 334 had been the benchmark for years. Hridoy has now replaced it with an unbeaten 350.

From a promising young batter at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup to Bangladesh A captain and now the country’s highest first-class scorer, Hridoy’s journey has taken another notable turn in Potchefstroom.

The bigger question now is whether this remarkable innings can become a turning point in his international career. If Hridoy can carry the patience and discipline he showed in South Africa into Bangladesh’s Test setup, the 350 could prove to be more than just a record. It could be the innings that changes how his red-ball potential is viewed.