DHAKA, June 15, 2023 (BSS)-Bangladesh left Afghanistan at the knife-edge of a defeat in the one-off Test after taking on the stranglehold from a tricky situation on day two at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

On an eventful day that saw 16 wickets being fallen, Bangladesh finally kept their nose ahead, leading Afghanistan by 370 runs at stumps.

Bangladesh tasted a sensational batting collapse in a horrible morning session, losing five wickets for nine runs to be bowled out for 382 but hit back strongly, led by fast bowler Ebadot Hossain, who claimed 4-47, to wrap up the Afghans' first innings for 146.

Instead of enforcing the follow-on, Bangladesh chose to bat again and ended the day on 134-1 with Nazmul Hossain Shanto, fresh from his 146, remaining not out on 54.

Opener Zakir Hasan, who fell for a duck in the first innings, played fluently to be not out for 54 also.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who scored 76 on day one, was the only batter out when left-arm spinner Amir Hamza had him caught by Ibrahim Zadran at first slip for 17.

Paceman Nijatullah Masood raised Afghanistan's prospect of dominating Bangladesh when he claimed a five-for as the second Afghanistan bowler on debut.

His 5-79 was instrumental in triggering the collapse as Bangladesh added just 20 runs to their overnight total of 362-5 before being all out.
A day after becoming the first Afghan bowler to take a wicket with the first ball of his Test career, Masood found swing and movement in the overcast conditions to rip through Bangladesh's batting.

Pace bowler Yamin Ahmedzai, who had figures of 2-39 to complement Masood, provided the momentum-shifting breakthrough when he had Mehidy caught by Amir Hamza at backward point with a delivery that was well outside off.
Mehidy chased the delivery needlessly to throw away his wicket after scoring 48. Masood then undid veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, who fended a short delivery to slip to be out for 47.

After their dismissals, Bangladesh crumbled in two overs with Masood completing his five-wicket haul by rattling the stumps of Shoriful Islam in the 86th over.

Bangladesh's fast bowlers also used the overcast conditions impeccably to leave Afghanistan in a tricky position.

Ebadot led the charge and was complemented by the two wickets hauled each by Shoriful, Mehidy and Taijul Islam.
Ebadot found edges regularly flew into the gap, much to the dismay of the Bangladesh.

But he found success after left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam broke through with the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran.

Ebadot unsettled Abdul Malik (17) with extra bounce and then made Rahmat Shah shaky, swinging the ball under the overcast conditions.
After setting up Rahmat with deliveries that shaped across, Ebadot finally got the better of him with a short ball as Afghanistan were reduced to 35-3.

Shoriful Islam grabbed the key wicket of captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (9), also baffling him with extra bounce before Nasir Jamal and Afsar Zazair put up a brief resistance.

They shared a 65-run to take the side past the 100 run figure break-but the introduction of spin put a break. Offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke the partnership, trapping Jamal leg-before for 35. He later completed his 150-wicket, the third Bangladeshi bowler after Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam, when he had Karim Janat stumped for 23.

Ebadot, however, stuck with his short ball policy, which fetched him success again when Zazai fell into the trap to be out for 36. Amir Hamza was also undone by Ebadot's short ball but credit to Mominul for taking an excellent one-handed catch at short leg.

Taijul Islam later joined the party to clean up the tail.