Rashid leaves Bangladesh in a mess

Sports Desk: Rashid Khan struck 51 off 69 balls to lift Afghanistan 342 runs and then claimed 4-47 to reduce Bangladesh to 194-8 at stumps on the second day of the one-off Test in Chattogram on Friday.

Mominul Haque scored the only half-century for Bangladesh, 52 off 71 balls, while Mosaddek Hossain remained unbeaten on 44 to spare some blushes for the Tigers as they still trail Afghanistan by 148 runs in the first innings.

Bangladesh lost a wicket in the very first over of their innings when Yamin Ahmadzai dismissed opener Shadman Islam for a duck but Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das steadied the innings with 49-run stand.

Mohammad Nabi removed Soumya leg-before for 17 before Rashid introduce himself in the attack to create an immediate impact as he bowled dangerously living Liton for 33.

Rashid then took the cream out of Bangladesh’s batting in his fifth over by trapping Sakib al Hasan leg before plumb for 11 before Mushfiqur Rahim suffered duck two balls

The two blows left Bangladesh struggling at 88-8 during tea and things improved little after the break as Rashid continued to bamboozle the batsmen bowling Mahmudullah for seven runs.

Mominul launched a counter attack to bring his fifty off 69 balls but paid the price for his over aggression as he gave a catch to Asghar Afghan at mid-off off Mohammad Nabi, who finished the day with 2-53

Mosaddek survived the day with tail-ender Taijul Islam, 14 not out, but Bangladesh still face an uphill task to go close to Afghanistan’s first innings total.

Taijul Islam earlier claimed 4-116 while Sakib took two wickets to help Bangladesh bowl Afghanistan all out before the cross 350-run mark after the visitors resumed on 271-5.

Rashid was the last man dismissed when Mehedi Hasan took a sharp return catch much to the relief of the home side.

Taijul earlier gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough on the second day when he dismissed Asghar Afghan on 92 runs after the right-hander tried to play slog sweep only to be caught by Mushfiqur Rahim.

Taijul then bowled another overnight batsman Zazai for 41 before Sakib dismissed Qais Ahmad (nine) and Ahmadzai (0) in quick successions.

Qais was caught at silly point by Mominul Haque while third umpire confirmed Ahmadzai’s dismissal at slip after he was initially given not out by umpire Nigel Llong.

risingbd/Dhaka/September 06, 2019/AKA