Tigers miss out on opportunity

Bangladesh ended the first day of their one-off Test against Afghanistan in Dhaka on 362-5, the second-highest they have ever scored on a day and that too despite 11 overs of the daily quota not being bowled, although they would have still gone to bed with an eerie disappointment after the day’s play.

Najmul Hossain Shanto’s brilliant 146, alongside Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s gritty 78, set up the day for Bangladesh as they batted the whole day with a run rate over four-and-a-half, and Mushfiqur Rahim’s 72-run stand with Mehidy Hasan Miraz saw them reach the total at the end of the day but they will have to accept that they missed out on an opportunity to pile on a huge total on the travelling Afghans.

After being put into bat, Bangladesh lost Zakir Hasan (1) early but the 212-run stand between Mahmudul and Najmul completely exposed the inexperience of the Afghan bowling attack as they were battered and bruised by the duo.

However, both of them managed to stick along for the whole day, and neither Mominul Haque (15) nor skipper Liton Das (9) could stick for long, leading to Bangladesh getting reduced 290-5 at one point.

What would disappoint Bangladesh the most is the manner of the dismissals. Mahmudul got out trying to play a wide one, Najmul was caught in the deep trying to clear the boundary, Mominul was caught down leg, and Liton failed to pick the wrong’un from the Afghan chinaman Zahir Khan.

The situation was rescued by Mushfiq and Miraz as they stayed unbeaten on 41 and 43 respectively but the chance to post a total near 600 is probably gone with no recognised batter left.

While Najmul accepted that there could have been a partnership in the middle-order, he believed that there wouldn’t be any problem if Mushfiq and Miraz could make it big.

“Maybe, there could have been another partnership in the middle-order. If Mushfiq bhai and Miraz can make it big, then maybe those couple of wickets won’t matter and it wouldn’t seem like we are in a bad position,” the centurion said.

Bangladesh definitely have the upper hand in this match as far as the first day is concerned, and they would definitely hope of getting the total higher, as far as possible.

If they manage to get a big enough total, Bangladesh might have the chance to enforce the follow-on, which might also see them bat in the fourth innings, when the pitch is expected to grip and turn.

However, Najmul is not concerned with that at all.

“The situation we are in, let’s think about the first innings now. If Miraz and Mushfiq bhai can extend their partnership, the team will reach a good position. What will happen on the fourth or fifth day can be thought of when it comes,” he said.