Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain fifties give Bangladesh huge lead over Afghanistan in one-off Test – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In the one-off Test match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Dhaka, the hosts strengthened their position by reaching 134-1 in their second innings on the second day of the match.
Despite having a 236-run lead in the first innings, Bangladesh chose not to enforce the follow-on and extended their overall lead to 370 runs by the end of the day’s play.
Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain both remained unbeaten on 54 runs each, contributing to an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 116 runs. The only wicket to fall in the second innings so far was that of Mahmudul Hasan, who scored 17 runs.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s innings came to an end after just three overs following the tea break, with the team being bowled out for a meager 146 runs.
Ebadot Hossain was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, claiming four wickets for 47 runs. Spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam also chipped in with two wickets each.
Afghanistan had a tough start in their first innings, losing four wickets quickly after the lunch break, with Ebadot and Shoriful Islam doing the damage.
However, Nasir Jamal and Afsar Zazai provided some resistance with a 65-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Mehidy eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Jamal for 35 runs, and Ebadot removed Afsar for 36 runs, exposing the lower-order batsmen.

In their own first innings, Bangladesh resumed at 362-5 but collapsed to 382 all out, losing their last five wickets for just nine runs.
Nijat Masood claimed 5-79 on debut for Afghanistan, while pacer Yamin Ahmadzai finished with 2-39.
But Afghanistan then lost three wickets in quick succession to spoil their storming start to the day.
Ibrahim Zadran nicked Shoriful and was out for six, while fellow opener Abdul Malik made 17 before falling to Ebadot, Zakir taking a sharp low catch at third slip.
Rahmat Shah was next to fall after he holed out to Taskin Ahmed at midwicket off Ebadot for nine.
Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi departed for nine after the break.
The hosts had shown some positive intent to build on their overnight total before their sudden collapse.
Mehidy was unbeaten overnight but flashed a catch to Amir Hamza at gully off Yamin to end his promising innings at 48.
Mushfiqur Rahim (47) and Taijul Islam (0) followed Mehidy in the next over from Nijat, before Yamin dismissed Taskin for two.
Nijat then bowled Shoriful to complete his five-for and wrap up the Bangladesh innings in unexpectedly swift style.
Afghanistan won the only other Test between the two teams when they beat the home side by 224 runs at Chittagong in 2019.
(With AFP inputs)