On this day in 2021: WI chase down 395 thanks to Kyle Mayers double ton

The West Indies have registered some famous wins in cricketing history from hopeless positions. Be it the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 final against England where Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne did the unthinkable when the team had lost eight wickets chasing 218 or Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes in the final over of the T20 World Cup 2016 final.

The Windies also pulled off an extraordinary win in the game’s longest format as left-handed batter Kyle Mayers announced his arrival to international cricket in style. Their key players Kieron Pollard and Jason Holder had missed the tour citing COVID-19 concerns and personal issues. However, Mayers made the most of his opportunities and scored a match-winning double century against Bangladesh on this very day in 2021.

Kyle Mayers anchors WI chase with an excellent double century

After being whitewashed in the ODI series 0-3, the visitors decided to salvage pride in the two-match Test series, the first of which was played in Chittagong. Bangladesh after winning the toss posted 430 in their first innings riding on the back of a superb 103 from bowling all-rounder Mehidy Hasan. The West Indies in reply were bundled out for 259 while skipper Mominul Haque led from the front with a vital 115 as the hosts declared their innings at 223/8 thereby, setting a target of 395.

The Caribbeans in their chase were reduced to 59/3 before a 216-run fourth-wicket stand between Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Mayers put them in control. Nonetheless, once this partnership was broken, the Bangladesh bowlers tried to make a comeback by picking up wickets from the other end as the middle-order batter stood like a rock at one end.

While the lower-order played a much-needed supporting knock, the middle-order batter went after the bowlers single-handedly as the visitors successfully chased down the target by three wickets. Mayers remained unbeaten on 210 and was also adjudged the Man of the Match.

With the knock, Mayers became only the sixth batter to score a double century on Test debut while the West Indies went on to register the fifth-highest successful run chase in the fourth innings of a Test match and the highest successful on Asian soil.