Najmul Hossain Shanto's magnificent century helped Bangladesh make a big score on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today (June 14).
Shanto struck 146 off 175, hitting 23 fours and two sixes to help Bangladesh rack up 362-5, its third highest total on day one.
He added 212-run with opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for the second wicket, a partnership, which was instrumental in keeping Bangladesh's nose ahead. Defying the hot and humid weather, Bangladesh scored above 4.5 runs per over, epitomizing their ambition to play attacking brand of cricket.
Joy missed out his ton after being dismissed for 79. At stumps, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was batting on 43 with Mushfiqur on 41 after sharing 72-run for the undefeated sixth wicket stand.
Shanto counterattacked from the words go as he disrupted Afghans plan shrewdly.
He punished anything short and raised his fourth test fifty off 58 balls, pulling a short delivery off left-arm wrist spinner behind backward square leg for four.
Joy, playing his first test since June last year, was patient compared to his partner as he brought up his third fifty off 102 balls when an overthrow gave him five runs.
Shanto frustrated the Afghan bowlers more to bring up his century off 118 balls and looked untroubled against a lackluster bowling attack.
Rahmat Shah, an occasional legspinner, brought the crucial breakthrough for the side when Joy cut straight to Ibrahim Zadran at slip.
The first two sessions saw Afghanistan taking just two wickets but they pulled the things in the third session as debutant Masood, who claimed 2-67, led the charge.
He successfully reviewed one to get the better of Mominul Haque, caught by the wicket-keeper for 15 and then rattled the stump of Najmul with another one that swung sharply. But to his dismay it was a no-ball.
Shanto failed to make the most use of the chance and after adding just three runs, he was dismissed when he chipped straight to deep midwicket after being lured by left-arm spinner Amir Hamza.
On his captaincy debut, Liton Das was undone by the flight of left-arm wrist spinner Zahir Khan, edging it at first slip as Bangladesh slumped to 290-5 from 218-1.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehiy Hasan denied Afghanistan to wrestle back to the game, playing with calculative aggression.
BDST: 1953 HRS, JUNE 14, 2023
MSK/SMS
