The 26-year-old, fresh from his nine-wicket haul in Bangladesh’s upset win over Australia in Darwin in August, finished with 5/55 to dismiss Afghanistan for 240 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Afghanistan skipper Rahmat Shah hit a gritty unbeaten 105 but did not receive enough support to match Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 346. Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud took a hat-trick to help put Bangladesh in a commanding position against Afghanistan in the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
With a first-innings lead of 106, Bangladesh consolidated their position by reaching 223/6 at stumps on Day 3, extending their lead to 329 runs with four wickets in hand. Resuming at 211/4, Afghanistan were dismantled by Hasan. He dismissed Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad and Zia-ur-Rehman off successive deliveries to leave Afghanistan at 220/8. Hasan became only the third Bangladesh bowler after Alok Kapali (2003) and Sohag Gazi (2013) to take a Test hat-trick.
At stumps, Litton Das was unbeaten on five, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz was yet to get off the mark, giving Bangladesh a strong chance of forcing a victory on a wearing pitch. He now also has four five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Hasan’s pace partner Ebadot Hossain finished with 4/56. Afghanistan captain Rahmat struck 10 fours and two sixes in his fourth Test century. When Bangladesh batted for a second time, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (82) and veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim (81) lifted them from 53/3 with a 159-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Pacers Yamin Ahmadzai (2/42) and Zia-ur-Rehman (2/55) shared the bowling honours for Afghanistan. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
“I am delighted to take a hat-trick and, more than that, it’s good to help the team get into a strong position from where we can force a victory,” he said.
