Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto celebrates reaching 100. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Bangladesh’s top-order batter Najmul Hossain Shanto brought up his third Test ton on the opening day of the Tigers’ one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
The left-hander reached the three-figure mark off 118 deliveries when he played an Amir Hamza delivery with soft hands and stole a quick single in the 38th over of the game. Shanto, who has not shied away from playing his shots, smashed 18 fours so far, remaining unbeaten on 100. Bangladesh reached 185 after 38 overs for the loss of one wicket.
Shanto also stitched together an unbeaten 175-run second-wicket stand with opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who also brought up his third Test fifty. Joy remains unbeaten on 61 off 131 deliveries.
Despite coming in to bat after Bangladesh had lost opener Zakir Hasan in the second over of the innings, Shanto looked positive from the word go. He used his feet well against the Afghan spinners, not letting them settle into a rhythm.
Both Shanto and Joy were impressive against Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Zahir Khan, who gave away runs at a rate of over seven an over. Shanto, in particular, dominated against Zahir, smashing the leggie for four boundaries in his five overs.
Shanto played some exquisite straight drives, with the most eye-pleasing one coming in the second session when he drove debutant Karim Janat down the ground to move into the nineties.
And anything that was short, Shanto pounced on those to pull them for boundaries square of the ground.
