MIRPUR: Bangladesh's biggest-ever test triumph sees it trounce Afghanistan by 546 runs. On June 17, Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by a score of 546 runs, giving it its largest-ever test victory.
Bangladesh appeared to breeze to their third-largest victory in terms of runs in test cricket history. Afghanistan was bowled for 115 on Day 4 after being given a challenging total of 662, thanks in large part to fast bowler Taskin Ahmed's career-best figures of 4-37. Najmul Hossain, the second Bangladeshi player to reach that milestone, contributed to the hosts' win by scoring hundreds in each of the innings.
The largest victory Bangladesh had previously was a 226-run triumph over Zimbabwe in 2005. Only England's 675-run victory over Australia in 1928 and Australia's 562-run victory over England at The Oval in 1934 had a smaller margin than the one in Mirpur.
Bangladesh's pace assault dominated at the venue, which has historically tended to favour spin. Along with the falling wickets, Afghanistan also had to contend with two batters, including final batsman Zahir Khan, who were struck by rising deliveries and were unable to finish their innings.
Taskin was in charge of a three-pronged pace attack that took 14 wickets in the game, which was unusual for Bangladesh at home. On Day 4, Bangladesh finally made a breakthrough when Nasir Jamal edged one to the wicketkeeper in the third over as fast bowler Ebadot Hossain (1-22) straightened one off the pitch to remove the outside edge. Nasir was out on six after adding just one to his overnight total.
Rahmat Shah put up a fight, scoring a team-high 30 runs, but Bangladesh's fast bowlers persisted, with left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam recording two wickets in quick succession.
Afsar Zazai (6) was caught at gully by Shoriful, who finished with the numbers of 3-28. Next, Bahir Shah (7), who had been sent in to bat after captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (13), who had been struck by a Taskin bouncer on Day 3 and was unable to continue, was removed. Then Taskin entered the fray, breaking Rahmat's defence as Afghanistan fell behind with a score of 91-6.
He also defeated Karim Janat (18) and Yamin Ahmadzai (1), putting him in position to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in an innings. However, a drama ensued as the final batsman, Zahir Khan, managed to survive twice in a row. He avoided being called out for being caught behind as DRS failed to detect an edge, and the subsequent delivery rattled his stumps but was ruled a no-ball. After two balls, he attempted to duck a short ball but was struck in the elbow, forcing him to retire out.
In its first innings, Bangladesh was dismissed for 382 runs despite Najmul Hossain's counterattacking 146. When Afghanistan, playing its first test since 2021, was bowled for 146 in reply, the hosts decided against enforcing the follow-on.
Najmul became the second Bangladeshi batsman to reach a century in each inning of a test after posting 124 in the second inning. Mominul Haque helped Bangladesh reach 425-4 before declaring and giving Afghanistan an unlikely 662-run target, breaking a two-year century drought. In the upcoming month, the teams will compete in three ODIs and two T20 Internationals.
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