Afghanistan in total control after day three

It was another day of Afghanistan dominating the one-off Test match against hosts Bangladesh at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chottogram.

At the end of the day Afghanistan led Bangladesh by a massive 374 runs with two wickets still in hand. 

Ibrahim Zadran and Asghar Afghan produced a brilliant 108-run partnership after losing three early wickets to ensure the visitors kept control of the match.

Zadran top-scored in the innings with 87 runs while Afghan scored 50 - his second half-century in this Test.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh were bundled out for 205, conceding a 137-run 1st innings deficit and that could be the deciding factor in this game, which looks set to go towards and Afghanistan win. 

Mosaddek Hossain remained not out on one end with 48 runs as he ran out of partners to bat with, and ended up with the second-highest score in a poor batting effort. 

Captain Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan taking 5-55, his best figures in Test cricket so far.

Shakib Al Hasan and Nayeem Hasan gave the Tigers a glimmer of hope by taking three early top-order wickets but the Afghans counterattacked with the Zadran-Afghan partnership to once again demoralise the Bangladesh bowlers.

Much like in the first innings, wicketkeeper-batsman Afsan Zazai held up an end scoring crucial runs in the lower-middle order and so far he’s not out on 34. 

He found some good contributions from Rashid Khan (24) and Qais Ahmed (14) before they both lost their wickets. 

Rashid was especially damaging with the bat as he plundered five boundaries in an over against Nayeem Hasan but was soon after bowled by a beauty from Taijul Islam soon after.

Mohammad Nabi, who announced that he’d be retiring from Test cricket after this game, ended on a disappointing note with the bat, managing just eight runs. 

Shakib so far has been the most successful bowler in the third innings so far taking 3-53 while Taijul (2-68) Nayeem (2-61) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-35) were also among the wickets. 

Play was called off slightly earlier than usual as there was a power failure in the and as a result the game will begin 20 minutes earlier than usual on day four.

Bangladesh will have a mountain to climb as the pitch deteriorates and becomes more spinner-friendly with time, especially given Afghanistan’s potent wrist spin attack.