Only Test, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Day 3 preview: Tourists on top despite late fightback from hosts

At tea on Day 2 at Chattogram, Bangladesh were in tatters at 88/5. An hour later they were 146/8. Then Mosaddek Hossain (44*) and Taijul Islam (14*) fought back against the four-pronged Afghanistan spin attack. By stumps Bangladesh reached 194/8 – still 148 behind but in a situation better than what they were an hour ago.

Bangladesh still have a long way to go. Thankfully, Nayeem Hasan, their No. 11, has a penchant for hanging around. However, things look really bleak at this point on a pitch that is steadily deteriorating.

The day began with Asghar Afghan (92) top edging while attempting an ungainly slog sweep off Taijul (4/116). Upon arrival, Rashid Khan (51) decided to take the attack to the enemy camp; hit hit 2 fours and 3 sixes.

Taijul spun one across Afsar Zazai (41) to clean bowl him, while Shakib Al Hasan took out Qais Ahmed (9) and Yamin Ahmadzai (0). Rashid went last, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz hanging on to a hard-hit catch off his own bowling. Afghanistan got 342 after being 278/5 at one point.

Ahmadzai (1/21), the only specialist seamer of the Test, struck with his fourth ball, having Shadman Islam (0) caught behind. Soumya Sarkar (17), bogged down by an overtly defensive approach, was trapped leg before by Mohammad Nabi (2/53).

Then Rashid (4/47) struck. He zipped one through to bowl Liton Das (33); in the over before lunch, he trapped Shakib (11) leg-before; two balls later he had Mushfiqur Rahim (0) caught off his boots – a decision where the third umpire had to intervene. At this stage Bangladesh were 88/5.

Mominul Islam (52) decided to counterattack at this stage. He got to an aggressive fifty before attempting one shot too many and hitting Nabi to mid-on. A short-of-length ball from Rashid kept low to flatten Mahmudullah’s (7) off stump, and debutant Qais (1/22) picked up his first Test wicket by having Mehidy (11) bowled round his legs.

Key players

Taijul Islam (Bangladesh): Taijul has faced 55 out of 94 balls bowled during the unbroken ninth-wicket stand. He will want to stretch that as much as possible before assuming his main role, of Bangladesh’s main strike bowler.

Rahmat Shah (Afghanistan): Rahmat had scored 98 against Ireland and 102 in the first innings here – the two highest scores for Afghanistan in Test cricket. Who else should Afghanistan rely on to provide them that decisive total?

Brief scores:

Afghanistan 342 (Rahmat Shah 102, Asghar Afghan 92, Rashid Khan 51; Taijul Islam 4/116) lead Bangladesh 194/8 (Mominul Haque 52; Rashid Khan 4/47) by 148 runs.

Prediction

Afghanistan to set Bangladesh a target over 300.