Shanto raises bat after scoring fifty on June 15, 2023. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Despite a batting slump at the start of second day, Bangladesh are in pole position to win the lone Test against Afghanistan by a big margin after the visitors were bundled out for a meagre 146 in 39 overs in Mirpur today.
The Tigers will resume third day’s proceedings at 134 for one in their second innings, leading by 370 runs.
After a run-fest on the opening day, the Tigers could only add 20 runs to their overnight total of 362 for five. Both Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz ended up a few runs short of 50 runs, while Afghan seamer Nijat Masood picked three on the day to register a five-wicket haul on debut.
Afghanistan batter, in reply, however, could not capitalise on the momentum given by Masood and company. Other than the period where Nasir Jamal and stumper-batter Afsar Zazai combined for a 65-run stand for the fifth wicket, Afghanistan batters struggled to negotiate the bounce and spin off the pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Wickets fell at regular intervals and pacers Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam shared six scalps, with the former picking a four-wicket haul – the third instance in his Test career.
Meanwhile, Taijul Islam and Miraz picked two wickets apiece and the latter became the third Bangladesh bowler, after Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul, to enter the 150-wicket club in the longest format.
Skipper Liton Das chose to not enforce follow on and the Tigers began proceedings in a similar fashion to the previous day.
Afghanistan, through Amir Hamza, did remove Mahmudul Hasan Joy early in the second over but first innings’ centurion Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan stamped their authority in the middle as the duo piled up 100-plus partnership and reached their fifties along the way.
The visitors, who had the chance to remove both Zakir and Shanto early on in their innings, lacked discipline on the field, as evidenced by the number of extras – nine so far in the second innings following 32 in the first.
