Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 546 runs in one-off Test

Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 546 runs in the one-off Test in Dhaka, thus achieving their highest victory margin in Tests, and the third highest in the format's history. The visitors' last man Zahir Khan took a blow to the elbow and retired hurt during an extended morning session on the fourth day, thus leaving the hosts with only nine second-innings wickets to take to complete the win.

Some drama also took place just before that, as Bangladesh neared victory. Zahir was given out caught behind off the ball of the 33rd over, with Taskin Ahmed taking off to celebrate what he thought was his first five-for in Tests, only for the batter to overturn the decision on review, as replays showed the ball had missed the bat by an inch.

The delivery immediately after, Taskin bowled Zahir, only for the ball to be deemed as an above-waist full toss, and thus a no-ball. Then three legal balls after that, Taskin crashed one into Zahir's elbow, thus rendering him unable to bat. After a few minutes of discussion and medical attention, Zahir walked off. That confirmed a massive win for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's fast bowlers combined to take 14 wickets in the match, the most for them in a Test. The hosts entered the fourth day requiring eight wickets to seal the win, which they duly did inside 22 overs although eventually they had to take one wicket lesser. It started in the third over of the day when could do little Nasir Jamal against a beautiful delivery from Ebadot Hossain: the ball pitched outside off and straightened just enough to tickle the batter's outside edge.

Next over, Rahmat Shah survived when he was given out caught in the slips off a snorter from Shoriful Islam, before the TV umpire determined that the ball had come off his armguard. But Shoriful didn't have to wait too long for his: three overs later - the 19th of the innings - Afsar Zazai edged him to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at gully.

As a result of that wicket, in came debutant Bahir Shah, who was brought in as concussion substitute for captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. But Shoriful ended the 21st over by having him caught at third slip, where Taijul Islam took a good, low catch. That meant Afghanistan were 78 for 5, which soon became 91 for 6 when Taskin had Rahmat Shah caught behind for 30 four overs later. Taskin's third wicket came soon after, when he bowled Karim Janat for 18.

That meant all of the seven wickets to fall had gone to Bangladesh's fast bowlers, after which one finally went to a spinner. Brought into the attack to start the 32nd over, Mehidy struck third ball when he had Amir Hamza caught at short leg, where the ball landed after coming off his glove and helmet in an attempted pull shot. And next over, Taskin had Yamin Ahmadzai caught at mid-off to get his fourth.

But Afghanistan's troubles had begun on the third evening itself, when Shoriful had trapped Ibrahim Zadran lbw first ball, thus becoming the second Bangladesh bowler after Mashrafe Mortaza to start an innings with a wicket. Next over, Abdul Malik chased an away swinger from Taskin, only to be caught behind for 5.

Come the sixth over, Taskin struck Shahidi on the head with a bouncer. Shahidi, who had ducked at the ball after seemingly taking his eyes off, fell flat on the pitch, before walking off retired hurt. Effectively, Afghanistan were three down, before Bahir would take Shahidi's place.

But much before those problems for Afghanistan, twin centuries from Najmul Hossain Shanto - and one from Mominul Haque in the second innings - had already laid the foundation for Bangladesh's triumph. They declared their second innings on 425 after obtaining a 236-run first-innings lead, thus setting Afghanistan an improbable 662. That eventually turned out to be more than enough for a commanding win.

Source: ESPNcricinfo