Rashid Khan leads Afghanistan to crushing win over Bangladesh

The Afghanistan captain took 11 for 104, including six for 49 in the second innings, to guide his team to a thumping win over the Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh.

Rashid Khan took six for 49 in the Bangladesh second innings.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan claimed a career-best 6-49 amid the threat of rain, sealing a 224-run win over Bangladesh on Monday in a one-off test.

The six-for in the second innings, his third five-for or more in a row, took him to 11-104 in the match, alongside scoring 51 runs in the first innings. In doing so, he joined Pakistan’s Imran Khan and Australia’s Alan Border to have scored a half-century and taken 10 wickets while debuting as captain.

Left-arm spinner Zahir Khan complemented Rashid with 3-59.

A shower on the morning of the fifth day forced a delayed start with Afghanistan four wickets from victory. When it finally started, it lasted only seven minutes and 13 balls before more rain fell again, with Bangladesh at 146-6.

MATCH SCORECARD

Afghanistan got the prized wicket of Shakib Al Hasan on the first ball after play resumed for the second time, with the Bangladesh captain playing an expensive cut shot against left-arm spinner Zahir Khan only to be caught behind.

Shakib scored 44 runs for Bangladesh in the innings.

Rashid’s relentless attacking bowling had Mehidy Hasan (12) and Taijul Islam (0) flummoxed by googly. The captain then got the last recognized batsman, Soumya Sarkar, who spooned a catch to short-leg for 15.

“Credit goes to the batsmen who batted so well in the first innings and the youngsters for the way they bowled. The youngsters are applying their plans and learning from their mistakes,” Rashid said. “The four-day structure back home is helping the players. We had the best preparation for this game and it was challenging for the batsmen, they applied themselves.”

After getting Test status last year, Afghanistan lost its first match to India before beating Ireland by seven wickets at its base in Dehradrun, India.

Rahmat Shah became the first Afghan batsman to hit century in test cricket as Afghanistan racked up 342 in the first innings.

Brief scores:Afghanistan 342 all out (Rahmat Shah 102, Asghar Afghan 92, Rashid Khan 51; Taijul Islam 4-116) and 260 all out (Ibrahim Zadran 87, Asghar Afgan 50; Shakib Al Hasan 3-58) bt Bangladesh 205 (Mominul Haque 52; Rashid Khan 5-55, Mohammad Nabi 3-56) and 173 in 61.2 overs (Rashid Khan 6-49, Zahir Khan 3-59)