Dhaka, Oct 11 (V7N) – Bangladesh took the stranglehold of the one-off Test against Afghanistan on Day 3 after some individual performances lit up Sheikh Jayes Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE today.

Hasan Mahmud's hat-trick was the most pivotal of those performances, before eighty-plus knocks from Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto rounded off the day. Bangladesh ended the day with an overall lead of 329, after reaching 223-6 in their second innings at stumps. Liton Das was batting on 5 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz yet to score as Bangladesh look to build a 400-plus lead tomorrow.

After bowling out Afghanistan for 240 in their first innings, following a pace burst from Darwin Test hero Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh started the second innings watchfully. Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who hammered a 71-ball 83 in the previous innings, got a start to cherish again but failed to capitalise on it after being out for 31. His fellow opener Shadman Islam was also dismissed cheaply before Mominul Haque was out for 7 to leave Bangladesh at a precarious 53-3.

Earlier, Afghanistan was outclassed by a superb Hasan Mahmud who scripted Bangladesh's memorable victory in Darwin a couple of months ago. Hasan became the first Bangladeshi pacer to claim a hat-trick in Test cricket, shattering Afghanistan's hope of taking the stranglehold of the match despite a stubborn 105 not out from captain Rahmat Shah. Hasan's fiery bowling, complemented by Ebadot Hossain's raw pace, eventually triggered a collapse as Afghanistan lost six wickets for just 29 runs and were bowled out for 240 after resuming the day at 211-4. Hasan finished with 5-55 while Ebadot returned figures of 4-56.

With Afghanistan hinting at clawing back into the contest, resistance from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim took Bangladesh into an advantageous position. They combined for a 159-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with both missing out on deserved centuries. Mushfiqur Rahim, who made a duck in the first innings, vindicated the failure with 81 off 148, an innings featuring nine fours. His dismissal ended the typical Test-like partnership, leaving Shanto to dig in deep.

However, the skipper too was out for 82 after hitting five fours in 191 balls. Both of them ensured they kept Afghanistan players in the field for considerable time under scorching heat in a bid to take out their energy completely. Yamin Ahmadzai and Zia-ur-Rahman took two wickets apiece for Afghanistan.

end/wsp/rh/