Sports Reporter :
The touring Afghanistan took the upper hand scoring 237 for the loss of eight wickets in the second innings against Bangladesh on the third day of the first and lone Test match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday.
Electing to bat first, Afghanistan piled up a fighting total of 342 in the first innings on the second day (Friday).
In reply, Bangladesh scored 205 in the first innings on the third day (Saturday).
Afghanistan have now overall 374-run lead with two wickets in hand.
Bangladesh resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 194 for the loss of eight wickets.
Mosaddek Hossain and Taijul Islam resumed their innings with the over-night score of 44 and 14 runs respectively.
But, Taijul Islam failed to add any runs as he was bowled out by Mohammad Nabi when Bangladesh’s score was 194 for the loss of nine wickets.
While Nayeem Hasan (7) was trapped leg before wicket by Rashid Khan and Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Mosaddek Hossain remained unbeaten with 48.
Rashid Khan bowled extremely well and finished his superb bowling spell capturing five wickets for 55 runs only in 29.5 overs.
Afghanistan’s faced an early debacle in their second innings losing three wickets for 28 runs.
Opener Ihsanullah (4) was trapped leg before wicket by Shakib Al Hasan when Afghanistan’s score was just four.
One-down Rahmat Shah (0) was caught & bowled by Shakib Al Hasan before any run was added.
Second-down Hashmatullah Shahidi (12) was caught at the slip by Soumya Sarkar off Nayeem Hasan when the tourists’ score was 28 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Ibrahim Zadran and Asghar Afghan repaired the damage contributing together 108 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Asghar was caught by Shakib Al Hasan off Taijul Islam when Afghanistan’s total was 136 for the loss of four wickets.
Asghar hit an exact fifty. His 108-ball knock saw four fours and two sixes. It was his second half-century in Test cricket.
Ibrahim Zadran notched up a sedate 87. His 208-ball innings had four sixes and six fours. It was Zadran’s maiden half-century in Test cricket.
Zadran was caught at the long-on by Mominul Haque off Nayeem Hasan when the team’s reached 171 for the loss of five wickets.
Fifth-down Mohammad Nabi (8) was caught at the square leg by Mominul Haque off Mehidy Hasan Miraz when the touring side’s score was 180 for the loss of six wickets.
Skipper Rashid Khan (24) was bowled out by Taijul Islam when Afghanistan’s total was 210 for the loss of seven wickets.
Seventh-down Qais Ahmed (14) was trapped leg before wicket by Shakib Al Hasan when the score was 235 for the loss of eight wickets.
Afsar Zazai and Yamin Ahmadzai were on 34 and naught before the bails were drawn for the third day.
Shakib Al Hasan grabbed three wickets at the cost of 53 runs, while Nayeem Hasan and Taijul Islam bagged a pair of wickets each for 61 and 68 runs respectively.
