Zakir, Najmul fifties give Bangladesh huge lead over Afghanistan

DHAKA: Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain both hit unbeaten half-centuries to guide Bangladesh to 134-1 in its second innings and consolidate the host’s control in its one-off Test against Afghanistan in Dhaka on Thursday.

Bangladesh decided against enforcing the follow-on despite taking a 236-run lead in the first innings and was up by 370 at stumps on the second day, with Zakir and Najmul unbeaten on 54 apiece.

The pair added 116 runs in their unbroken second-wicket stand with Mahmudul Hasan (17) the only batsman so far dismissed in the second innings.

Ebadot Hossain returned figures of 4-47 with Bangladesh needing just three overs after tea to wrap up the Afghan innings, with the tourists bowled out for just 146.

Spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam dismissed the final two batsmen, ending with two wickets apiece.

Ebadot and Shoriful Islam reduced Afghanistan to 51-4 shortly after the lunch break, before Nasir Jamal and Afsar Zazai put up some resistance with a 65-run fifth-wicket stand.

Mehidy broke the partnership by trapping Jamal lbw for 35 and Ebadot soon dismissed Afsar for 36 to expose Afghanistan’s tail.

Bangladesh resumed its first innings at 362-5 but were all out for 382 early in the morning as the hosts lost 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. Agencies

Also Read: Ganguly advises India to play fearless cricket to end ICC title drought

Also Watch: