Zadran and Afghan fifties move Afghanistan closer to victory

Afghanistan built a 374-run lead over Bangladesh thanks to half-centuries from teenage debutant Ibrahim Zadran and Asghar Afghan.

Published : Sep 07, 2019 18:43 IST

Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran (L) scored 87 runs off 208 balls, while wicket-keeper Afsar Zazai (R) remained not out on 34 off 83 at the end of day's play.
Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran (L) scored 87 runs off 208 balls, while wicket-keeper Afsar Zazai (R) remained not out on 34 off 83 at the end of day's play.
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Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran (L) scored 87 runs off 208 balls, while wicket-keeper Afsar Zazai (R) remained not out on 34 off 83 at the end of day's play.

Teenage opener Ibrahim Zadran scored 87 on debut as Afghanistan put itself in a strong position to win its one-off Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram.

Replying to a first-innings total of 342 from the tourist, Bangladesh added just 11 to its overnight score and was all out for 205 after just 17 minutes of play on day three when Rashid Khan completed his second five-wicket haul in Tests.

17-year-old Zadran and Asghar Afghan (50) enhanced Afghanistan's lead with a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket and the tourist was 237-8 and leading by 374 runs when bad light stopped play after a power failure at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

READ| AFG vs BAN One-off Test: Shah steers Afghanistan with historic ton

Mohammad Nabi (3-56) clipped Taijul Islam's off stump with the third ball of the day and Bangladesh's first innings ended when Nayeem Hasan was unsuccessful with a review after being trapped leg before by Afghanistan skipper Rashid.

Shakib Al Hasan (3-53) got the host off to a strong start when Afghanistan batted again, removing Ihsanullah (4) and Rahmat Shah (0) off successive balls in the first over.

Afghanistan were 28-3 when Hashmatullah Shahidi (12) fell to Nayeem. However, Afghan and Zadran steadied the ship, the former registering a half-century for the second time in the match before clipping Taijul (2-68) to Shakib at leg slip.

Bangladesh spilled three chances to remove Zadran and it was made to pay as the youngster racked up six fours and four maximums in a thoroughly impressive display.

Mominul Haque eventually pouched him in the deep off Nayeem (2-61) and Nabi's final Test innings with the bat - he will focus solely on white-ball cricket after this match - saw him add just eight runs.

Rashid scored 24 off 22 deliveries, finding the ropes six times in an enjoyable cameo, while Afsar Zazai (34 not out) and Yamin Ahmadzai (0no) were in the middle when stumps were called with Afghanistan very much on top.

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