OBHAI Only Test: Afghanistan Vs Bangladesh
Played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram
Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day-3
Afghanistan 1st Innings 341 All Out (Rahmat Shah 102, Asghar Afghan 92, Rashid Khan 51, Afsar Zazai 41, Ibrahim Zadran 21, Taijul Islam 4/116, Nayeem Hasan 2/43, Shakib Al Hasan 2/64) and 2nd Innings 237/8 (Ibrahim Zadran 87, Asghar Afghan 50, Afsar Zazai 34*, Rashid Khan 24, Shakib Al Hasan 3/53, Nayeem Hasan 2/61, Taijul Islam 2/68)
Bangladesh 1st Innings 205 All Out (Mominul Haque 52, Mosaddek Hossain 48*, Liton K Das 33, Rashid Khan 5/55, Mohammad Nabi 3/56)
Afghanistan lead by 374 Runs
Afghanistan playing only its third Test have moved to an impregnable position against Bangladesh team believed to be a very difficult team on own condition at Chattogram at stumps of day three. On a wicket taking turn and getting lower and lower they lead Bangladesh by 374 runs with two second innings wicket in tact. Whatever Afghanistan extend the team on day four the match already appears to be well beyond the reach of Bangladesh. Afghanistan posses some top quality spin bowlers capable of exploiting the wickets on day four.
On a wicket believed to be doctored to suit Bangladesh spinners Afghanistan batted brilliantly in both innings against Bangladesh attack stuffed with four front line and three occasional spinners. They scored 341 runs in the first innings and till stumps on day three reached 237/8. In between bowling brilliantly they bundled out Bangladesh for 205. Top leg spinner young Afghan captain took 5/55 his second five wickets haul in third Test. Veteran Mohammad Nabi appearing in his last test took 3/56. Bangladesh will have rewrite their cricket history even if they have to score 375 for the win.
It may be mentioned here that West Indies on 09/05/2003 scoring 418 in the fourth innings at Antigua Recreation Ground bat Australia. That team had Chris Gayle, Brian Charles Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. This Bangladesh team already looked jaded and shoulders were already dropping.
Did Bangladesh take the Test seriously at all? Who does not know Afghanistan now possess quality spinners – some unique of their own kind. Logically they bat much better against spin. They play most of their cricket in adopted home in India and before the series spent some time in Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh after mixed CWC 2019 hurriedly overhauled coaching staff, let their captain enjoy long vacation, let leading batsman skip the Test. The players when reported for preparation were reported mostly at low fitness level. There were talks around for producing a grass top wicket offering some thing for pacers. Very expensive mostly favoring South African coaching staff were engaged. Pace bowlers were made match ready. Leading pacer Mustafiz was excluded from test squad. Surprising many the Test eleven was selected with 4+3=7 spinners and no front line pacer.
Bangladesh taking Afghans lightly appears to have been caught in their own trough. Under prepared Bangladesh team struggled to keep rookie Afghans innings on check. Determined Afghans scoring 341 runs in the first innings loudly announced that they meant business. Bangladesh in reply batted like novice against high quality spinners on the surface where much vaunted Bangladesh spinners looked blunted. Bangladesh got bundled out for 205 conceding 137 runs first innings lead.
Bangladesh was expected to bounce back. They started well with skipper Shakib taking two early wickets and Nayeem adding one soon 3/28. But a 17 years old teenager Ibrahim Zadran stood like Mount Hindu Kush. He was ably supported by Asghar Afghan. All tricks Shakib led Bangladesh spinners threw at them were handled like matured professionals. Adding 108 runs in the 4th wicket the pair took the match out of Bangladesh grip. Asghar got out after scoring his second fifty of the match. But teenager Zadran kept his cool. He batted 208 balls for his patient 87 before getting out to 18 years old Nayeem Hasan. When he got out Afghan’s lead already crossed 300. He took his team on his young shoulder to take them to calm weather.
Each Afghan batsman excepting Nabi in his last test innings batted with passion. Captain Rashid in his 24 runs cameo struck 5 fours in an over of Nayeem. When play had to stop for flood lights going out for forced outage Afghanistan was 237/8 a lead of 374. Even if they fail to add anything on day four Bangladesh may not chase this target.
Hope BCB would respond with facts and analysis Shakib’s claim that Bangladesh team did not plan for the wicket that was offered. We are not sure what Shakib wanted? If a rookie team in Test cricket play with such maturity why Bangladesh is in such tight leash now?
BDST: 1905 HRS, SEPT 7, 2019
SI/SMS
