Sports Reporter:
sensational batting collapse saw Bangladesh squander a powerful start to be reduced to 226-5 at tea on Day 1 of the one-off cricket Test against Afghanistan at Sheikh Jayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE yesterday.
Bangladesh lost four wickets in the post lunch session, allowing Afghanistan to hit back into the game.
After opting to bat first, Bangladesh got a blazing start from the openers with Tanzid Hasan Tamim particularly shining in impeccable way.
Tanzid smote eight fours and four sixes for his 71 ball-84 while his fellow opener Shadman Islam made 67.
Tanzid treated the Afghan bowlers in disdain to give Bangladesh a flying start as the opening stand added 124 runs.
The partnership was broken when Tanzid edged a shorter delivery from pacer Ismat Alam to wicket-keeper and missed out his second Test ton.
Shadman and Mominul Haque kept the side rolling with 60-run partnership for the second wicket.
But Afghan pacers stuck to their plan to send down short deliveries repeatedly, watching Bangladesh batters struggle against that kind of bowling.
And it paid the dividends as fast bowler Mohammad Saleem undid Shadman with short ball to break the dangerous partnership.
Another pacer Yamin Ahmadzai, however, dealt a double blow, dismissing Mominul Haque for 39 and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim for duck in three deliveries to leave Bangladesh in precarious state.
The situation further worsened when leg-spinner Qais Ahmed removed skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto for 29 on the stroke of tea.
Liton Das was batting on 3 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz yet to score at the second break of the day.
