POBNEWS24 Dhaka, June 16, 2023 : Mominul Haque closed in on a century after two years as Bangladesh took a massive 614 runs lead after reaching 378-4 at tea on day three of the one-off cricket test against Afghanistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.
At the second interval of the day, Mominul was batting on 95, five runs short of his 12th century and captain Liton Das was on 48.
Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to make his fourth and second century in the match bigger one, being out on 124. Shanto made 146 in the first innings.
Resuming the day on 134-1, Bangladesh batters plundered listless Afghan bowlers in emphatic fashion to bury them under huge runs.
Opener Zakir Hasan scored 71 off 95 with eight fours before perishing while going for a third run. That was the only success of Afghanistan after Bangladesh resumed the day on 134-1.
Afghanistan bowling attack looked clueless, failing to create any chance throughout the morning session.
Both of the Bangladesh batters-Shanto and Zakir, got enough loose deliveries to punish it with ease.
Zakir also appeared to head toward a century until his ambition to take the third run cost his wicket which broke the 173-run second wicket partnership. Zakir who fell for duck in the first innings, made 71 off 95 with eight boundaries.
After playing in one-day style, Najmul completed his fourth test century off 115 balls, nudging occasional bowler Hashmatullah Shahidi behind square for a single.
By doing so he became the second Bangladeshi batter after Mominul Haque to hit century in both innings of a Test.
Mominul Haque, who witnessed Shanto to join him in the elite club, also appeared to be untroubled as the duo continued to pile on the runs.
Left-arm wrist spinner Zahir Khan however gave the side a double delight, dismissing Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim in three balls.
He had Shanto caught by Abdul Malik at midwicket, bringing an end to 108-run partnership while Mushfiqur’s reverse sweep cost his wicket for 8 runs.
But Mominul and Liton made sure that the joy of Afghanistan would be short lived as they plunders the bowlers to add further 96 runs for the unbeaten fifth wicket stand.
Bangladesh put up 382 in its first innings before dismissing Afghanistan for 146. It however chose to bat first, instead of enforcing follow-on.
