In the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Bangladesh made a steady start with Najmul Hossain Shanto's half-century and reached 116-1 at lunch on day one at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today (June 14).

Despite his previous struggles with inconsistency, Shanto now managed to find his rhythm in the longer version of the game. He scored not out 64 at the first interval.

Meanwhile, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, playing his first Test, since June last year, looked untroubled and was batting on 38.

Bangladesh made a forgettable start after Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi sent them into batting.

Bowler Nijatullah Masood had Zakir Hasan for 1 caught by wicket-keeper Afsar Zazai, making him the first Afghan bowler to claim the wicket in the first delivery of debut test.

The delivery from Masood in the second over, shaped across Zakir but the umpire remained unmoved. The replays revealed that the ball took the feintest nick off the bat before going through to wicket-keeper.

By doing so, Masood became the 22nd bowler in the world to achieve the feat.

Shanto however counterattacked, epitomizing Bangladesh's ambition to play aggressive brand of cricket and it paid off handsomely.

He punished anything short as he struck 11 boundaries in his almost chanceless knock. The left-hand batter raised his fourth test fifty off 58 balls, pulling a short delivery off left-arm wrist spinner behind backward square leg for four.
 
Mahmudul, who hit six boundaries in his knock was patient during his knock as Bangladesh remained untroubled in the first session of the day.

BDST: 1332 HRS, JUNE 14, 2023
MN/SMS