The second day of the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh witnessed a significant turn of events as the former faced a challenging start, losing three crucial wickets by lunch. Despite restricting the hosts to a commendable total of 382, Afghanistan’s batting line-up struggled against Bangladesh’s potent pace attack. With the surface offering extra bounce, seam movement, and an increased pace, the conditions heavily favored the fast bowlers, putting Afghanistan’s inexperienced batsmen under immense pressure.
As play resumed on the second day, Afghanistan’s decision to take the second new ball paid off immediately. The overnight partnership between Mehidy Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim was swiftly broken by Afghanistan’s bowlers. Debutant Nijat Masood showcased his talent by registering a five-wicket haul alongside Yamin Ahmadzai, who also contributed to dismantling Bangladesh’s lower order. What seemed to be a comfortable position for Bangladesh at 362/5 turned into a sudden collapse, losing their last five wickets for a mere 20 runs.
The pitch displayed an increase in pace and bounce from a good length, providing favorable conditions for the pacers. Bangladesh’s fast bowlers, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam, skillfully exploited the pitch characteristics to secure key early breakthroughs. Their disciplined bowling and ability to make the ball move allowed them to restrict Afghanistan’s scoring opportunities. Although the older ball might prove to be comparatively easier to handle, Afghanistan’s batting unit faces a daunting task against Bangladesh’s formidable pace attack on the challenging pitch.
Score at Lunch Break: Bangladesh 382 (Shanto 146, Mahmudul 76, Masood 5-79) vs Afghanistan 35/3 (Ebadot 2-15, Shoriful 1-6)
