Hridoy and Jaker Enter Champions Trophy Record Books

DUBAI, Feb 21, 2025 (BSS) – Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali Anik etched their names into ICC Champions Trophy history with a record-breaking partnership during Bangladesh’s opening match against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Although Bangladesh fell to a six-wicket defeat, the duo’s 154-run stand for the sixth wicket not only set a new national record but also became:

• The highest sixth-wicket partnership for Bangladesh in ODIs.
• The highest sixth-wicket stand by any team against India in the Champions Trophy.
• The highest sixth-wicket partnership in the tournament’s history.

Previously, the best sixth-wicket stand in Champions Trophy history was 131 runs, set by South Africa’s Justin Kemp and Mark Boucher against Pakistan in 2006. Bangladesh’s previous best for this wicket was 150 not out by Jaker and Mahmudullah against West Indies in St. Kitts last December.

A Rescue Act After Early Collapse

Bangladesh had a disastrous start after choosing to bat first, collapsing to 35-5 in 8.3 overs. A total below 100 seemed likely, but the Hridoy-Jaker stand helped them reach 228 before being bowled out in 49.4 overs.

In the nine-edition history of the Champions Trophy, a team has lost five or more wickets within the first 10 overs only four times—and Bangladesh accounts for three of those:

• 44-6 against New Zealand in 2002.
• 26-5 against West Indies in 2004.
• 35-5 against India in 2025.

Hridoy’s Historic Century

Both Hridoy and Jaker played cautiously until reaching their half-centuries. Jaker departed for 68, but Hridoy carried on to register his maiden ODI century.

With this knock, Hridoy became only the second Bangladeshi to score a century on his Champions Trophy debut, following in the footsteps of Tamim Iqbal.

His innings was not without struggle—after the 40th over, he suffered from muscle cramps and was visibly struggling to run. By the 45th over, he was forced to walk for runs, yet he battled through, ensuring his place in Champions Trophy folklore with a memorable ton.