Rashid grabs six as Afghanistan seal memorable win

Afghanistan players celebrate their 224-run victory against Bangladesh in the one-off Test in Chattogram on Monday. AFP
Afghanistan players celebrate their 224-run victory against Bangladesh in the one-off Test in Chattogram on Monday. AFP

Afghanistan needed just 17.4 overs to claim Bangladesh's four remaining wickets as the visiting side recorded a 224-run victory over the hosts in the one-off Test in Chattogram on Monday.

Rashid Khan was the show-stopper, bagging three of them, but it was after debutant Zahir Khan had removed Shakib Al Hasan to deal the Tigers the biggest blow of the day.

Today's three scalps meant the Afghanistan captain netted a six-for, becoming the first Afghan to claim five or more wickets in both innings of a Test after his grabbing five wickets in the first innings.

Bangladesh would be ruing the loss, especially the failure to save the match with the likes of Shakib, Soumya Sarkar and Mehidy Hasan Miraz batting on a fifth day.

The way Shakib was out frustrated fans and pundits alike, but Afghanistan deserved plaudits for taking their chances.

That is even more commendable because of the way they bounced back after a disastrous World Cup where they did not win a single game and Rashid Khan even conceded 110 runs in nine overs against England.

The way Shakib was out frustrated fans and pundits alike.
The way Shakib was out frustrated fans and pundits alike.

In this Test, he scored 75 runs (51+24) and took 11 wickets (5+6), becoming only the third player after Alan Border and Imran Khan to score a fifty and take 10 wickets or more in a Test as a captain.

He was duly adjudged the Man-of-the-Match.

Bangladesh were bundled out for just 173 in their second innings, which certainly did not impress the fans. Afghanistan's second innings total was 260, as they set the hosts a 398-run target.

Bangladesh had made 205 in their first innings, in response to the Afghans' 342, thanks to a Rahmat Shah century and 92 from Asghar Afghan.

It was the perfect ending for veteran Mohammad Nabi, who was playing his last Test.

The win put Afghanistan beside Australia as they are now the only teams to win their second Test playing just three matches. For the record, Bangladesh won their first Test at the 35th attempt and needed to wait till the 60th game to record their second win.

The Tigers will now need to shrug off this poor performance before they take on Zimbabwe on Friday in the opening match of a tri-nation T20 series that also features Afghanistan.