Allround Rashid keeps Afghanistan on top despite Mosaddek's late fightback

Skipper Rashid Khan led from the front with both bat and ball to put Afghanistan on top in the one-off Test match at Chattogram. Mosaddek Hossain combined with Taijul Islam to stage a late fightback to keep Bangladesh hanging but with the deficit still 148, the visitors will fancy their chances to pick up a massive win.

Afghanistan were dealt a blow very early in the day when they lost Asghar Afghan with the former skipper playing a loose stroke when he was just eight runs short of his century. The wicket didn't deter Rashid though as he played a couple of sweep shots to fetch boundaries to get going. Taijul, having already removed Afghan, struck again to get rid of the other overnight batsman Afsar Zazai that brought an end to a 115-ball vigil.

With wickets falling at one end, Rashid switched gears and added three sixes to his tally to not only bring up a maiden Test fifty but also ensure his side post a competitive total of 342 on the board in the first innings on a turning track where their opponents will be batting last. The visitors went onto remove opener Shadman Islam in the very first over as well to head into the lunch break firmly on top. And then it was all Rashid once again hogging the headlines post lunch, this time with the ball.

Even though Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das were cautious to begin the session, Mohammad Nabi finally ended their resistance by trapping the left-hander plumb in front with a slider. Rashid then struck in his very first over by castling Liton and then added the key wickets of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to his tally. While Shakib was trapped leg-before-wicket, Rahim was dismissed in a freakish fashion with an inside edge popping up to short leg after bouncing off his shoe.

88/5 at the Tea break soon became 104/6 when Rashid picked up his fourth wicket. Mahmudullah was a victim of the pitch's unstable bounce as he failed to bring his bat down in time for a delivery that stayed low to castle his stumps. Mominul Haque at the other end though looked fluent at a venue where he already has an impeccable record.

At one stage, the left-hander picked up four boundaries in the space of two overs to reach a well-compiled Test fifty but the aggressive approach only led to his downfall as he miscued one off Nabi to get caught at mid on. Qais Ahmad then ended a promising start from Mehidy Hasan to pick up his maiden Test wicket but it was all Bangladesh post that.

Mosaddek showed tremendous composure to slowly keep the scorecard ticking and at the other end, Taijul managed to hang on as well to frustrate Afghanistan. At one stage, it appeared as if Afghanistan would fetch a lead of 180 but the ninth wicket pair's stubborn resistance saw the hosts go into stumps cutting short the deficit to 148, still needing a mountain to climb to stay alive in the contest.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 194/8 (Mominul Haque 52, Mosaddek Hossain; Rashid Khan 4-47, Mohammad Nabi 2-53) trail Afghanistan 342 (Rahmat Shah 102, Asghar Afghan 92, Rashid Khan 51; Taijul Islam 4-116) by 148 runs