Debutant Kyle Mayers scored a stunning 210 not out as West Indies secured the fifth highest run chase in Test history against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Mayers also shared an outstanding fourth-wicket stand of 216 with fellow Test debutant Nkrumah Bonner.

Bonner fell lbw for 86, but Mayers played with aggression and fluency to see his side home.

‘I’m always positive and believed in my ability’

Mayers’ outstanding knock – which took 310 balls and included 20 boundaries and seven sixes – was one of the finest seen in modern Test cricket.

The 28-year-old Barbados left-hander, who had only played 32 first-class matches prior to the Test with a modest average, took a two-year break from the sport in 2018, before returning to first-class cricket in West Indies last year.

“I’m always positive and believed in my ability, and believed that we could get there. We never give up, and keep fighting,” he said.

His innings was described as a “fairytale” by West Indian commentator Fazeer Mohammed, with the tourists missing a number of their leading players who elected to miss the tour, largely because of Covid-19 concerns.

Mayers, Bonner and batsman Shayne Mosely were all making Test debuts for the tourists.

“So many of these players wouldn’t get the opportunity if it wasn’t for the players opting out,” Mohammed said on the BBC’s Cricket Social.

“Even when you saw Mayers score 40 in the first innings you could see that here was a positive player, someone who would not let a bad ball go by.”

‘One of the best innings of the 21st century’ – reaction and stats

Mayers becomes only the sixth player in history to score a double century in the fourth innings of a Test, and the sixth to pass 200 on debut.

He also recorded the highest second-innings score by a debutant and the second highest individual score in a successful fourth-innings chase after Windies legend Sir Gordon Greenidge’s unbeaten 214 against England at Lord’s in 1984.

West Indies’ win was the highest successful fourth-innings chase since 2008, and the highest made in Asia.

How the day unfolded

Beginning the day on 110-3, a victory seemed the unlikeliest of outcomes for the tourists.

However, Mayers hit the ball to all parts of the ground and was supported well by Bonner’s more watchful approach, as Bangladesh failed to take a wicket in the first two sessions of the day.

The hosts – who were a bowler short without spinner Shakib Al Hasan, who was unable to bat or bowl in the second innings because of a thigh injury – finally found the breakthrough after Bonner fell to Taijul Islam in the first over after tea.

Jermaine Blackwood was then bowled by Nayeem Hasan for nine, leaving the game poised for an intriguing finish with all four results possible.

With time running out, wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva provided Mayers with the back-up required.

Mayers was able to unleash some powerful, aerial hitting and he reached his double century by launching left-arm spinner Taijul over mid-wicket for six.

Da Silva was bowled by Taijul for 20 off 59 balls, and with the scores level, Kemar Roach edged to leg slip for a duck with three overs left.

However, the damage had already been done and, quite fittingly, Mayers hit the winning run for a historic victory.

Missed chances for Bangladesh

Despite a gallant effort by West Indies, Bangladesh will be ruing their poor use of the decision review system, as well as fielding errors which cost the Tigers opportunities to break up the Mayers-Bonner partnership.

Mayers, on 47, was struck on the pads by Taijul and there was another appeal against Bonner, shortly after, off the bowling of Nayeem.

On both occasions, Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque opted not to review, with replays showing the umpire’s decision would have been overturned.

Mayers was also dropped on 49 by Najmul Hossain Shanto at first slip, off the bowling of Mehedi Hasan.

The final match of the two-Test series begins in Mirpur on Thursday.