‘I am going to score a hundred’

"You have been chosen on merit. This is your destiny. It is your opportunity to fulfil it. This is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your talents and skills to the world and prove to all and sundry that you're not second-class cricketers."

Those were among the words former West Indies great Clive Lloyd wrote to inspire the West Indies side that had arrived in Bangladesh after the majority of their top cricketers opted out of the tour.

Among them was an obscure 28-year-old Barbadian named Kyle Mayers, who, with just two first-class centuries to his name before stepping out to make his Test debut, confidently declared: "I am going to make a century."

The rest is history and Kyle Mayers is now the talk of world cricket after creating history not just for himself, but for the entire Caribbean, whose morale was shot after a second-string outfit were given the huge challenge of playing in the sub-continent.

After being dominated by the hosts for the first four days, West Indies staged one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Test cricket. Mayers monumental unbeaten 210 saw the visitors chase down a record 395 runs with three wickets to spare after coming in on the fifth and final day.

The highest successful run-chase in Asia shocked Bangladesh and gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The left-handed Mayers guided the West Indies, negotiating 310 deliveries by mixing composure and calm with muscular hitting displays during a 415-minute stay at the crease.

"It is very special to me. It is my highest score and in my first Test. It is also the longest I have ever batted," said an elated Mayers.

The West Indies needed 285 runs on the fifth and final day with seven wickets in hand, but Mayers and another debutant, Nkrumah Bonner, showed enough hunger and inspiration to make history.

The two debutants exploited a lack of discipline from the Tigers with the ball and in the fielding department, with even the hosts' body language a little deflated after Mayers and Bonner ensured the visitors took tea without losing a wicket on the final day.

"I truly wasn't looking at the target. I was just trying to stick to my game plan as long as possible. I was trying not to look at the scoreboard. I was trying to bat as long as possible. I knew within that if we batted the whole day, the team would cross the line. It was always a challenge to bat on this wicket and they bowled very well. There were tough periods when we had to dig in. I tried to stay as tight as possible and when there were chances to score, I took the opportunity," Mayers said.

Although the pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium was anticipated to be a rank turner from the third day, there were no demons on the surface, which offered some turn and bounce for the spinners if they bowled in the right areas. Despite achieving the feat of scoring a hundred on debut, Mayers' unwavering focus saw him take responsibility for his side and see them across the finish line.

"A hundred was on the cards for me but I knew the team required me to score more than a hundred. So when I was batting, I was thinking that I needed to make 150. I thought at the start of the day that if I got 150-160, my team would be in good stead to cross the line. But as I reached 160, I knew I had to push more. It encouraged me to go further," he said.

After such a heroic effort, Mayers did not forget his close ones, saying: "Family, friends, coaches and those who stuck with me during my cricket career, I just want to give you thanks."