Shanto, Mominul centuries assist set 662 goal for Afghanistan
Afghanistan 146 and 45 for two (Rahmat Shah 10*, Nasir Jamal 5*, Shoriful 1-6) want one other 617 runs to beat Bangladesh 382 and 425 for 4 dec (Shanto 124, Mominul 122*, Zahir 2-112)
After one other near-perfect day in Dhaka, the place Najmul Hossain Shanto scored his second century of the Test match, Bangladesh have set themselves up for victory. Afghanistan have an inconceivable goal forward of them – 662 – and of their battle to remain alive they suffered an damage to their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi who was hit on the helmet by a Taskin Ahmed bouncer and needed to retire damage.
Bangladesh dominated proceedings with the bat as Shanto helped himself to 124 in 151 balls and Mominul Haque additionally raised 100 of his personal, ending unbeaten on 121 off 145. The goal they set – 662 – is the very best they’ve ever carried out in Test cricket nevertheless it got here as no shock. Head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe declared their intention earlier than the beginning of play on Friday. He mentioned that they wished to bat right through. Some anticipated Bangladesh to declare after Mominul reached his hundred, however the staff most well-liked to grind Afghanistan down.
It appeared to pay rapid dividends contemplating the primary 11 balls of the chase produced two key wickets. Shoriful Islam trapped Ibrahim Zadran lbw for a golden duck and even DRS could not save the batter. The ball pitched on leg stump and was projected to hit it. Taskin Ahmed then had Abdul Malik caught behind for five, when he went chasing after the quick bowler’s away swinger.
Things obtained worse when Shahidi, on 13 off 14, was struck on the pinnacle, as he ducked into Taskin’s bouncer. The Bangladesh slip cordon and fielders, and the Afghanistan physio ran in direction of Shahidi, who stayed totally on the ground after the hit. He walked off the bottom after a number of minutes of on-field checks, though a stretcher was additionally introduced out for him.
Earlier, Shanto, Mominul, Zakir Hasan (71) and Litton Das (66*) propelled Bangladesh’s second innings to 425 for 4. It was a day of largely ready for milestones and the declaration. Bangladesh’s 661-run lead is their biggest after batting two innings – the earlier greatest was 476 towards Zimbabwe in 2021.
Shanto and Zakir added 173 runs for the second wicket, the primary occasion that Bangladesh had two 100-plus second-wicket stands in a Test match. In the primary innings, Shanto and Joy added 212 runs.
Zakir fell on 71 when a relayed throw from Nasir Jamal to Ibrahim, discovered him nicely in need of the striker’s finish. He struck eight fours in his 95-ball knock. Shanto and Mominul added 83 runs for the third wicket. Shanto reached his century within the second innings throughout this partnership. He took 115 balls to achieve the landmark, his main areas of scoring via the covers and midwicket.
Shanto’s finish got here when he tipped a easy catch to midwicket off left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan, who took out Mushfiqur Rahim in the identical over as nicely. Mushfiqur had mistimed a reverse sweep which ballooned to Ibrahim at slip.
Mominul and Litton took up the baton to maintain the Bangladesh innings going, with Mominul reaching his century within the third session. It got here off 123 balls, when he ramped Yamin Ahmadzai for 4 over the slip cordon. Mominul scored most of his fours via third man and midwicket. His solely six got here down the bottom off Hamza Hotak. Litton remained unbeaten on 66 off 81 balls with eight fours.
Zahir took two wickets on the third day, whereas Hotak had taken one wicket within the second night.