Another batting debacle in Test was added to Bangladesh’s Test history, as they were reduced to 194/8 after day two of lone Test match against Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday (Friday). The hosts are still trailing by 148 runs.
Riding on the maiden Test ton of Rahmat Shah (102), a superb 92 of Asghar Afghan and Afghan skipper Rashid Khan’s maiden Test fifty, Afghanistan posted their highest ever score of 342 in Test history. Afghanistan were on top from the moment Yamin Ahmadzai struck with the fourth ball of Bangladesh's innings, after which it was over to Rashid once again to show his all-round value.
He picked up four wickets, including the huge ones of Shakib and Mushfiqur in the space of an over, and though Mominul’s fifty avoided follow-on for Bangladesh, Afghanistan struck repeatedly to maintain control. At the end, Mosaddek and Taijul have held the visitors at bay with an unbroken 48-run stand, with Mosaddek unbeaten on 44.
In reply to Afghanistan’s 342 in the morning, Bangladesh lost their first wicket without posting anything on the board when Shadman Islam was caught behind the wicket off pacer Yamin Ahmadzai. Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das tried to repair the initial blow by adding 38 in 19 overs. However, they failed as Soumya (17) missed the line while playing Mohammad Nabi and was dismissed.
Liton and Mominul Haque added 16 runs in the third wicket stand, but it was Liton who fell in Afghan skipper Rashid Khan’s delivery, leaving Bangladesh at 33/3. This was the time when Rashid Khan, who scored a half century in the first innings, started to show his ascendency over Tigers batsmen. First, he got rid of Liton.
After Liton, Rashid removed Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan (11) and Mushfiuqr Rahim for a duck as well. Shakib was out LBW while Mushfiqur was caught close to the wicket, and eventually, leaving Bangladesh at 88/5 at Tea of day two.
After Tea, Mahmudullah was deceived by Rashid’s delivery, the ball that started from outside the off, came inside and kept a bit low, rattled Riyad’ s stumps. For Bangladesh, Mominul Haque (52) was the lone fighter as he was holding one end and got his fifty after Tea. However, he got also got out after trying to hit a boundary off Nabi’s delivery. Miraz followed him few overs later as leg spinner Qais Ahmad’s delivery rattled his stumps leaving Bangladesh crumbling at 146/8. At the end, Mosaddek and Taijul’s crucial unbeaten 48-run stand kept Bangladesh alive in the first innings.
Rash shots, bad decision making, immature batting are the words that sum up Bangladesh’s first innings against a side who are playing their third Test match. Tigers are still not rectifying the bad habits of old. Now, what seemed an easy and winnable match on paper, became a match where there is more possibility of ending as a shameful defeat.
