Bangladesh failed to capitalise on two quick wickets after tea as Afghanistan reached 211-4 in reply to the visitors’ first-innings 346 on the second day of the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, with the hosts still trailing by 135 runs.
Rahmat Shah led Afghanistan’s resistance with an unbeaten 84 off 186 balls, sharing an unbroken 72-run stand with Ikram Alikhil, who was not out on 26 from 91 deliveries. The pair steadied the innings after Bangladesh struck twice in six balls to leave the hosts struggling at 139-4.
Ebadot Hossain sparked the late surge by dismissing opener Abdul Malik for 62 in the first over after tea, inducing him to chase a wide delivery. Mehidy Hasan Miraz then removed Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi for a duck in the following over.
Bangladesh could not find another breakthrough, however, as Rahmat and Ikram batted through the remainder of the day. The visitors waited for the second new ball to create another opening, but play was called off after 79 overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh had claimed two wickets in the first two sessions. Sediqullah Atal made 17 before Hasan Mahmud dismissed him, while Shahidullah fell for 20 to Ebadot after being beaten by a bouncer. Hasan completed an excellent catch at deep fine leg to send the left-hander back.
Atal’s dismissal came after a frustrating spell for Bangladesh with the Decision Review System. With the opener on four, the visitors reviewed an appeal against Hasan, but replays showed clear daylight between bat and ball. They later declined to review another appeal against Atal, despite replays showing a substantial outside edge. Hasan eventually got his wicket.
Before the post-tea strikes, Rahmat and Malik had put Afghanistan in a stronger position with a 70-run partnership for the third wicket. Malik’s departure gave Bangladesh an opportunity to press for more wickets, but Rahmat and Ikram held firm.
Bangladesh resumed the day on 317-8 and added 29 runs before being bowled out for 346 in 92.3 overs. Nayeem Hasan remained unbeaten on 35, helping the tail extend the total alongside Taijul Islam and Ebadot.
Afghanistan took the second new ball in the opening over but had to wait for a breakthrough. Mohammad Saleem dismissed Taijul with a short delivery down the leg side after the on-field decision against a caught-behind appeal was overturned on review. Yamin Ahmadzai then ended the innings by having Ebadot caught at point for a duck.
Saleem led Afghanistan’s attack with 4-82, while Ahmadzai claimed three wickets.
