On this day in 2019 – Afghanistan record their maiden away Test victory
9th September 2019 is a date that will hold a special place in the hearts of Afghanistan cricket fans. It was on this date that the Afghanistan side recorded their first-ever Test victory over the Bangladesh side. Afghanistan outplayed their opposition with both bat and ball in this Test match.
Afghanistan batted first and posted a competitive total of 342 runs on the board. Rahmat Shah and Asghar Afghan were the key contributors to the Afghanistan side with the willow in hand. While Rahmat scored a classy 102 off 187 deliveries, Afghan scored a handy 174-ball 92.
Taijul Islam was the pick of the bowlers for the Bangladesh outfit. In the 41 overs that he bowled, Islam scalped four wickets, giving away 116 runs.
Bangladesh replied with a total of 205. Mominul Haque and Mosaddek Hossain were the only two batsmen who stepped up for the Bangladeshi Tigers. While Haque scored a classy 71-ball 52, Hossain helped himself to an unbeaten 48 off 82 deliveries. Spin-bowling sensation Rashid Khan sliced through the Bangladesh batting lineup and scalped five wickets, giving away just 55 runs in his 19.5 overs.
Rashid Khan claims the final wicket – that of Soumya Sarkar – as Afghanistan secure a 224-run victory!
What a brilliant performance by the captain, who finishes with 11 wickets for the match 🔥
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— ICC (@ICC) September 9, 2019
In the second innings, opener Ibrahim Zadran stepped up for the Afghanistan side with the willow. He scored a sedate 208-ball 87. Apart from Zadran, Asghar Afghan and Afsar Zazai also scored 50 and 48*, respectively. Afghanistan was bowled out for 260 and set Bangladesh a target of 398 for victory.
The Bangladeshi batting lineup wilted under the pressure of a huge target to be chased down. Apart from Shakib Al Hasan and Shadman Islam, who scored 44 and 41 respectively, none of the other Bangladeshi willow wielders could even cross the 25-run mark. In the second innings too, it was Rashid who weaved his magic with the ball.
Rashid scalped six wickets in the second innings and gave just 49 runs in the 21.4 overs that he bowled, as Afghanistan thrashed the Bangladesh side by a whopping margin of 224 runs to post their first and only victory over the Bangladesh outfit. Rashid won the Player of the Match award.
