17:09 IST: Bangladesh skipper, Shakib Al Hasan says that they lacked application while batting but also says Afghanistan bowled really well. Credits them for their win. Shakib admits after playing for 20 years they cannot say it is a build-up process. Feels they have not played Test match for a while and thinks that might have been a case why the players were not up to the mark. Tells Afghanistan kept building pressure on them and that is the reason they came out on top. Says he is looking forward to the upcoming T20 series as the T20 World Cup is just a year away.
17:03 IST: A spinner’s paradise it was called and it indeed turned out to be that way. Just 1 wicket fell to a pacer out of the total 40 and Rashid led the way from the front. Bangladesh tried their best but on Day 3, surprisingly, there was not much turn on offer. If they had managed to bowl out the Afghans early on that day, there might still have been an outside chance. But as is the case in most Asian Tests, toss wins you the game more or less. Please stay tuned for the presentation…
17:01 IST: Afghanistan have produced a commanding performance. Winning the toss paved half the way for a win and they made use of that advantage. Getting close to 350 on a spinning track was always going to be difficult to challenge and Bangladesh never stood up. Rashid’s 5-for helped gain a lead close to 140 and that sealed the deal. In both the innings, the Afghans had one common factor. One batsman played a long inning and one hung around with the tail. Rahmat Shah and skipper Rashid did it in the first innings while Ibrahim Zadran and Afsar Zazai did the honors in the second.
16:58 IST: Too many strokes being played? One would think so. Shakib Al Hasan started the rut on Day 5, playing a wild shot, edging one behind. That started a procession and eventually, the inevitable happened. Rashid got a 6-for, finishing with 11 for the match. Bangladesh was under immense pressure and they wilted, not from day 4, but from the first innings itself. Just one-half centurion across both innings combined.
16:55 IST: We were scheduled to start 30 minutes early. 98 overs slotted. That early start never happened. Lunch came and went. Then the play began, only to be interrupted by rain. Tea came and went. And eventually, when the final possible chance came, it was indeed the last one. 19 overs were scheduled and with a little over 3 overs to spare, the visitors pulled one right out of the hat.
16:52 IST: ‘Afghanistan won?’ asks Aatma. The holy spirit. Relax. Just a colleague of ours. As shell-shocked as us. Who would have thought? From a position of getting the match called off due to rain, Afghanistan has pulled off a stunning win in the closing hours of play.
16:50 IST: 61.4: R Khan to Sarkar, OUT! AFGHANISTAN HAVE DONE IT! They have won the race against time, weather and everything that was against them. This is a massive, massive statement from the young cricketing nation. In just their 3rd Test they have come to the home of the Tigers and conquered their den. Floated delivery on middle and leg, Soumya plants his front foot forward and looks to defend. Read More
