Bangladesh pile up mammoth 362/5 on the 1st day of 1st Test

Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh piled up a mammoth total of 362 for the loss of five wickets on the first day of first Test against Afghanistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Wednesday.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh faced an early debacle as they lost their opener batter Zakir Hasan (1), who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai off Nijat Masood when the hosts’ total was only 6.
Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy and one-down Najmul Hossain Shanto rescued their team from early debacle contributing together 212 runs in the second wicket stand before Joy was caught at the slip by Ibrahim Zadran off Rahmat Shah when the Tigers’ total was 218 for the loss of two wickets.
Najmul Hossain Shanto notched up a terrific 146 using 175 deliveries with 23 fours and two sixes. Shanto fulfilled his third century in his Test campaign playing 118 balls with 18 fours.
Joy knocked a sedate 76. He hit nine fours in his 137-ball innings. He reached his third fifty-run landmark in Test cricket playing 102 balls with seven shots through the ropes.
After dismissal of Joy, Shanto and Mominul Haque added together 38 runs for the third wicket partnership before Mominul (15) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai off Nijat Masood when the home side’s score was 256 for the loss of three wickets. Mominul again failed to shine with willow.
After Mominul’s departure, Shanto was caught at the deep midwicket by Nasir Jamal off Amir Hamza when Bangladesh’s score was 271 for the loss of four wickets.
Then, fourth-down Litton Das arrived at the crease but he (9) was caught at the first slip by Ibrahim Zadran off Zahir Khan when the hosts’ total was 290 for the loss of five wickets.
After Litton’s dismissal, third-down Mushfiqur Rahim and fifth-down Mehidy Hasan Miraz put on together 72 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket stand before the bails were drawn for the first day play.
Ace batter Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten with 41, while prolific Mehidy Hasan Miraz remained unbeaten with 43.
Debutante Nijat Masood of Afghanistan bagged a pair of wickets in the space of 67 runs, while Rahmat Shah, Amir Hamza and Zahir Khan got one wicket each conceding 30, 85 and 98 runs respectively.