Afghanistan claim Test win over Bangladesh

Rashid Khan picked up six second-innings wickets to lead Afghanistan to a famous 224-run win over Bangladesh in the maiden Test match between the two sides at Chattogram on Monday.

Racing against time to complete a win with less than four overs left in the weather-hit match, the longest-format rookies bundled out the hosts for 173 in their second innings amid a drizzle and fading light.

The 20-year-old Rashid, who became the youngest Test captain during the one-off match, took 6/49 in the second innings to finish with 11 wickets in the match to go with his knock of 51 in the first innings.

Playing only their third Test after being inducted as a Testplaying nation two years back, it was the second victory for the strife-torn country.

“We are new in this format, total credit goes to the coaching staff and the players for this victory,” Rashid said at the presentation ceremony. “We had the best preparation for this game.”

Rahmat Shah’s 102 — the first century in the format by an Afghanistan batsman — and a 92 from Asghar Afghan allowed the touring side to post 342 in the first innings.

Rashid and Nabi, who took 3/56 in the first innings, then combined to skittle Bangladesh for 205 for a handy first-innings lead. Afghanistan then made 260 in their second innings to set Bangladesh a steep target to chase on a spinning track.

Once Afghanistan reduced Bangladesh to 136/6 in the second innings, the fate of the match was almost decided but for the intervention of bad weather. Heavy showers left Afghanistan with about 18.3 overs in the final session to take the remaining four wickets and force a result. Rashid took three with just 3.2 overs remaining.