Only Test Afghanistan Vs Bangladesh Played at Zahur Ahmed ChowdhuryStadium ,Chottogram
Brief Scorecard at Stumps of Day Two
Afghanistan 1st Innings All Out 341 ( Rahmat Shah 102, Asghar Afghan 92 ,Rashid Khan 51, AfsarZazai 41 , Taijul Islam 4/116 , NayeemHasan 2/43 , Shakib Al Hasan 2/64, Mahmudullah 1/9 and Meraj 1/73) ,
Bangladesh 1st Innings 194/8 (MominulHaq 52, MosaddeqHossain 44*,Liton Das 33, Rashid Khan 4/47, Mohammad Nabi 2/53, YaminAhmedzai 1/21 and Qias Ahmed 1/ 22)
A brilliant all round performance by champion Afghan captain Rashid Khan put the visitors on the drivers seat at stumps of day two of the Only test between Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Bangladesh responding to impressive 341 score of Afghanistan in the first innings were struggling at 194/8 in reply .With two wickets at hand home team is trailing by 143 runs. The turn and bounce that Nabi , Rashid and Afghan spinners extracted would make it extremely challenging for Bangladesh to escape the ignominy of saving the test . We saw the patience, guts and flair of Rahmat Shah and Asghar Afghan on day one confronting brilliantly the spin brigade of Bangladesh. On day two Taijul ,Shakib and Meraj had greater control but brilliant counter attack of Afghan captain Rashid Khan scoring 51 in 61 deliveries with 2 fours and three sixes led Afghans to 341 all out which is now being considered good enough for letting Bangladesh perspiring for the rest of the test . Earlier on the day double blow by Taijul removing two overnight batsmen AsgharAfaghan (92) and AfsarZazai (41) reduced the tourists to 299/7.
Bangladesh was desperately missing Mustafiz at this stage for mopping the tail. Rather Rashid Khan accompanying nine , ten and jack took the score to 341 a good enough score for testing much vaunted Bangladesh batting with Afghan treasure of quality spin bowling .Taijul took 4/116 in marathon 41 overs . Naeem Hasan for reasons unknown was not used on day two .He took 2/43 .Shakib( 2/64 ) and Mehedy taking the prized wicked of Rashid Khan finally achieved success .
Bangladesh response was struck early blow in the very first over from Afghan pacer YaminAhmadzai forcing Shadman playing a brilliant ouswinger leaving him. Veteran Nabi from the very outset extracted much more turn and bounce that Bangladesh spinners achieved in the entire first innings .Liton and Soumya could hardly score .Soumya was looking terribly out of shorts. Between lunch and tea Bangladesh lost 5 more wickets .The pains of Soumya was brought to end by very accurate Nabi and Liton was cleaned up by a Nabi Googley . The only batsman who played with some passion was Mominul. Three top dogs Mushfique, Shakib and Mahmudullah together added 18 to the Bangladesh tally. All three were victims of Rashid special. Perhaps Mushfique was a bit unlucky. At 6/104 the possibility of Bangladesh following on was looming. When well setMominul also fell to Nabi after scoring well made 52 in 71 deliveries striking 8 boundaries Bangladesh was looking terrible at 7/130. However, Mosaddeq and Meraj avoided the ignominy of following on. Meraj fell to other leg spinner Qais eventually but Mosaddeq pairing with Taijul rallied till stumps with an unbeaten 44 runs 9th wicket partnership. At stumps Mosaddeq was on 44 and Taijul on gutsy 14 off 55 deliveries. Rashid was peak of the pack with 4/47, veteran Nabi bowled with superb control in taking 2/53. Bangladesh is still 143 runs behind. The first innings lead on this deteriorating wicket would dictate the fate of the match. The unbroken 48 runs partnership between Mosaddeq and Taijul was the saving grace.
Afghan bowlers bowled way better than Bangladeshis on the wicket doctored by Bangladesh think tank. The lone Afghan pacer Yamin bowling with pace and movement proved that Bangladesh decision of going without a pacer was a mistake. Bangladesh is caught in its own trough. We could not understand what Shakib meant by saying “We did not get the wicket we wanted “at the day end media meet. It was arrogance and over confidence to say the least.
Afghans is playing only its third test .They are not used playing consistently well on day four and five. Bangladesh must try extending this match as long as possible. The first target this morning should be finishing as close as Afghan first innings score. Mosaddeq does this very often in domestic cricket. Taijul has patience. Any lead of 100 or there about would win the match for the visitors. Playing the Afghan spinners in the fourth innings would be hell of a task. Bangladesh would require RAIN DANCERS FOR SAVING THE TEST.
BDST: 1020 HRS, SEP 7, 2019
AH
