Tanzid scored 83 off 71 balls, while Shadman made 67 off 111 deliveries. Litton Das added a patient 53, but Afghanistan picked up crucial wickets in the final session to prevent Bangladesh from taking complete control.
Tanzid, Shadman give Bangladesh flying start
Bangladesh made an aggressive start after opting to bat, with Tanzid and Shadman putting the Afghanistan bowlers under pressure. Tanzid was particularly attacking, striking eight fours and four sixes in his 71-ball innings.
The opening pair added 124 runs for the first wicket before Tanzid was caught by Ikram Alikhil off Ismat Alam in the 23rd over.
Shadman continued to hold one end together, reaching 67 before Saleem Safi dismissed him. The second wicket fell at 184, giving Afghanistan a much-needed breakthrough after Bangladesh’s strong start.
Afghanistan strike back after lunch
Afghanistan found a way back into the contest by picking up wickets at regular intervals. Mominul Haque made 39 before falling to Yamin Ahmadzai, who then dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck.
Mushfiqur’s wicket came at a crucial stage, with Bangladesh losing two wickets for just four runs. The pressure increased further when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissed for 29 by Qais Ahmad.
Bangladesh slipped from 184/1 to 225/5, losing four wickets in a short period and allowing Afghanistan to regain control.
Ahmadzai and Saleem lead Afghanistan’s fightback
Yamin Ahmadzai and Saleem Safi played key roles in Afghanistan’s comeback. Ahmadzai picked up two wickets, including those of Mominul and Mushfiqur, while Saleem finished the day with three wickets.
Ismat Alam also made an important contribution, claiming two wickets and keeping the scoring in check. He conceded just 20 runs in 12.4 overs, including five maidens.
Afghanistan’s bowlers kept fighting despite Bangladesh’s strong start, ensuring the hosts could not build a commanding total without losing wickets.
Litton Das scores a fighting half-century
Litton Das steadied Bangladesh’s innings after the middle-order collapse. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 53 off 89 balls, hitting four boundaries to help the hosts recover.
He shared a 62-run partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who contributed 24 off 67 balls. The stand helped Bangladesh move past the 280-run mark after they had lost five wickets for 225.
However, Mehidy was bowled by Ismat Alam for 24, ending the partnership and bringing Afghanistan back into the game.
Late wickets prevent Bangladesh from taking control
Litton’s dismissal proved costly for Bangladesh. After reaching his half-century, he was caught by Ahmadzai off Saleem Safi for 53, leaving the hosts at 303/7.
Saleem struck again in the same over, bowling Hasan Mahmud for two with a yorker to reduce Bangladesh to 305/8.
Bangladesh reached stumps at 317/8 in 84 overs, with Nayeem Hasan unbeaten on 11 and Taijul Islam on four. Saleem finished with three wickets, while Ahmadzai and Ismat claimed two each.
With two wickets remaining, Bangladesh will look to add valuable runs on the second morning, while Afghanistan will aim to wrap up the innings quickly and take advantage of the position they have created.
