Simmons hails Hridoy's maturity after match-turning double ton

Sylhet, 7 Nov- Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons hailed Towhid Hridoy's maturity and exceptional game awareness after the batter produced a magnificent double century to give the side a control in the second and final cricket Test against West Indies at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Hridoy struck an unbeaten 242 off 359 balls, featuring 22 fours and 11 sixes, as Bangladesh recovered from a precarious position to post 386 in their first innings, taking a 30-run lead after being reduced to 184-6.

Simmons earmarked the innings as outstanding, praising Hridoy for taking responsibility and showing remarkable resolve even when he began to tire towards the end of his marathon knock.

"It was an outstanding innings. It's unbelievable how he was still able to find boundaries and hit sixes even when he started getting tired," Simmons told reporters after the day's play.

"He showed outstanding game awareness, knowing which shots to play and when to give the last three batsmen the strike. Everything he did in this innings was exceptional."

Hridoy's performance was particularly significant after he struggled to make an impact in the first Test in Dhaka, where some rash shots had raised questions about his approach in the longest format.

Simmons, however, said the youngster was quickly maturing as a Test batter and should not be judged harshly for his mistakes in only his second Test appearance.

 "Yes, he played a couple of rash shots in Dhaka, but that was his second Test match. So you can't hold that against him. I think he is quickly maturing and we saw that today," he said.

The Bangladesh coach also revealed that he did not give Hridoy any specific instructions during the innings, insisting that batters must take responsibility once they enter the field.

"When you are batting there, I can't send messages on how to bat. Once they cross the rope, they are in charge," Simmons said.

He also praised Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed for their valuable contributions in supporting Hridoy, saying the two bowlers followed the team's approach of staying at the crease and fighting alongside the specialist batters.

Simmons also disclosed that opener Shadman Islam was badly injured and had to leave the ground in a wheelchair on Friday. He hoped that two days of rest would help the batter recover, although he was relieved that Bangladesh did not need to call upon him during the innings.

Meanwhile, Simmons backed his three spinners to make a stronger impact in the second innings, rejecting suggestions that Bangladesh had been short of a pacer in the first innings.

He said the spinners had yet to demonstrate their true qualities in the Dhaka Test and the first innings in Sylhet, expressing confidence that they could deliver when the opportunity came.BSS