At the end of day two in the lone Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Bangladesh trail by 148 runs in the first innings with just two wickets in hand
Host Bangladesh were left in tatters following a horrific batting debacle against the Afghanistan spinners.
At the end of day two in the lone Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Bangladesh trail by 148 runs in the first innings with just two wickets in hand.
Having scored 194 for the loss of eight wickets in 67 overs, chances are slim for the home side to recover in the game as a probable defeat against three-Test old Afghanistan is lingering.
On the flat deck at ZACS, Bangladesh batters were expected to be comfortable but as it happened, Afghanistan remained on top for most parts of the game.
With Mosaddek Hossain and Taijul Islam at the crease with an unbroken 48-run stand for the ninth wicket, Afghanistan will be expected to bat early in the first session of day three and put on a competitive target for Bangladesh to chase.
Off the eight wickets to fall, Bangladesh gave away seven to the Afghanistan spin trio in the form of captain Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Qais Ahmed.
Rashid made the most damage, finishing with four wickets, including the big three - Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah - and Liton Das.
Bangladesh were at a point of a humiliating follow-on, losing wickets at regular intervals, until Mosaddek and Taijul offered some resistance at the end of the day.
Having bowled out Afghanistan for 342 in the first innings early in the day, Bangladesh were left shaken, losing opener Shadman Islam for a duck in the fourth ball of the innings to Yamin Ahmadzai from a nick to the slip.
The other opener Soumya Sarkar was joined by Liton in the second session and were kept at bay by Yamin Ahmadzai, along with Nabi.
The partnership could manage only 38 before Soumya got removed by Nabi from a leg-before for 17 off 66 balls.
Liton was looking comfortable on 33 when he gave it away to Rashid form a cross-batted shot as the ball rattled the stumps.
Rashid went on to pick two more wickets, in the same over before lunch, those of Shakib and Mushfiq.
Shakib was trapped leg-before for 11 to a Rashid special following an unsuccessful review.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiq was, to some extent, unfortunate to get dismissed for a duck.
The on-field umpire had given out as soft signal to an appeal for a catch, which, on replays, proved to be inconclusive.
Mushfiq had defended the ball only to find it hit his toe and pop towards the short-leg fielder for a simple catch.
After tea, Rashid notched his fourth wicket, removing Mahmudullah for seven.
Mominul Haque posted the lion’s share of runs with a 52-run innings, but his fashion of dismissal to Nabi was found to be hideous by many.
Mominul ambitiously tired to play Nabi over long-on only to get caught at mid-on.
Around 10 overs later, Bangladesh lost wicket No 8 as Mehedi Hasan Miraz (11) became leg-spinner Qais’ maiden Test wicket.
Bangladesh had a good start to the day as they removed five Afghanistan wickets in the first session of play and wrapped the innings for 342, allowing only 71 to be added to the overnight score.
Asghar Afghan, who resumed the day on 88, departed for 92 while Afsar Zazai also departed quickly, for 41, adding just six to his overnight score of 35.
Taijul finished with four wickets while Shakib and Nayeem Hasan picked up a couple each for Bangladesh.
