Rashid backs up maiden fifty with three big wickets

Sports Desk:  After entertaining with a maiden half-century during the course of which he brought out a Steven Smith-like leave, much to the amusement of his team-mates, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan scythed through Bangladesh's top order. His three wickets left Bangladesh on 88 for 5, possibly even staring at a follow-on, however unlikely, at tea on the third day of the one-off Test in Chottogram.

Afghanistan: 342

Bangladesh: 104/6 * (39.1 ov)

Yamin Ahmadzai dismissed Shadman in the first over, as the left-hander edged to wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai for a duck.

Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das, both batting in new positions, survived the remaining 3.2 overs, scoring just a single run as they look towards a better second session.

Afghanistan earlier added 71 runs in 21 overs, before losing their remaining five wickets. Rashid Khan's maiden Test fifty boosted their scoring, as he struck three sixes and two fours while batting with the tail. Apart from his big hits however, it was mostly Bangladesh's morning as they took out the remaining five wickets fairly quickly.

Asghar Afghan, who was on 88 overnight, added just four more runs before top edging Taijul Islam. He struck three fours and two sixes in his 174-ball 92. Taijul then produced a beauty - the ball breaking from leg-stump hitting off-stump - to get rid of Afsar Zazai who made a competent 41. Afghan and Zazai added 81 runs for the sixth wicket.

Shakib Al Hasan removed debutant Qais Ahmed and Yamin Ahmadzai cheaply, before Rashid, looking for quick runs off the first five balls of the over and a single off the last, was caught and bowled by Mehidy Hasan after reaching his fifty.

Taijul Islam finished with 4-116 while Shakib and Nayeem Hasan, who didn't bowl a single over in the second morning, took two each.

 

risingbd/Sept 6, 2019/Mukul