Afghanistan are sensing a win against a major Test-playing nation.
The side are in the driving seat in the ongoing one-off Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran was the chief architect behind it.
Riding on the right-handed batsman’s maiden Test half-century on debut, Afghanistan lead by 374 runs at stumps on day three.
With two wickets in hand, the team are targeting a lead above 400 and Ibrahim believes the Afghans are in a winning position by around 70%.
The only spoiler can be the weather with forecasts suggesting rain in the remaining two days of the game.
Dropped at silly point on zero in the third over of the innings and again on 66, Ibrahim Zadran has been the highlight of @ACBofficials dominance over @BCBtigers in the second innings.https://t.co/jQzv5oN7Vn#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #ACB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 7, 2019
“Our target at this point is to make some 400-plus runs and we are 30-40 runs away from that. We believe we can do that and it will not be easy for Bangladesh to achieve that,” said Ibrahim to the media Saturday.
“We have taken good preparation for this game. Two weeks back we were in Abu Dhabi preparing for this match and we played a two-day practice match here as well. We were very hopeful that we will be able to play well here and it has been in our favor so far. We believe we are in 70% winning position,” the 17-year old added.
In Afghanistan’s second innings, Ibrahim displayed strong patience.
Despite the side’s two early losses, Ibrahim remained composed and avoided Bangladesh bowlers’ traps to face 208 balls and add a valuable 87 to the tally.
Ibrahim, playing his first Test, during his stay in the middle pulled up three partnerships, the best coming with Asghar Afghan - 108 for the fourth wicket.
Ibrahim credits his experience gained when he toured Bangladesh in July this year for a two-match unofficial Test series and five-game one-day series.
@BCBtigers were given a scintillating start by left-arm spinner @Sah75official, who removed two @ACBofficials batsmen in the first over when the visiting side went out to bat in the second innings.https://t.co/soZuAulgpz#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #AFGHANISTAN
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 7, 2019
The Afghanistan batsman during the tour had topped both the series with the bat, scoring 209 in the four-day series and 273 in the fifty overs.
“Yes it has been of help [touring Bangladesh earlier]. I was here a month ago. I have been preparing well and I know the condition here. That has helped me playing well,” said Ibrahim.
“I have not played the tournament [ICC Intercontinental Cup, first-class cricket tournament] but have played four-day domestic matches back home. I was not good in the first few matches but I took time to learn the game and now I am using that experience here,” informed the Afghanistan batsman.
ONLY TEST, DAY 3
AFGHANISTAN 1ST INNINGS R B
Ibrahim c Mahmudullah b Taijul 21 69
Ihsanullah b Taijul 9 36
Rahmat c Soumya b Nayeem 102 187
Shahidi c Soumya b Mahmudullah 14 32
Asghar c Mushfiq b Taijul 92 174
Nabi b Nayeem 0 3
Zazai b Taijul 41 115
Rashid c & b Miraz 51 61
Qais c Mominul b Shakib 9 15
Yamin c Soumya b Shakib 0 7
Zahir not out 0 5
Extras (lb 1, nb 2) 3
Total (117 Overs) 342 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-19 (Ihsanullah), 2-48 (Ibrahim), 3-77 (Shahidi), 4-197 (Rahmat), 5-197 (Nabi), 6-278 (Asghar), 7-299 (Zazai), 8-322 (Qais), 9-327 (Yamin), 10-342 (Rashid)
Bowling
Taijul 41-5-116-4, Shakib 22-1-64-2, Miraz 28-5-73-1, Nayeem 13-0-43-2, Mahmudullah 4-0-9-1, Soumya 4-0-26-0, Mominul 4-0-9-0, Mosaddek 1-0-1-0
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Shadman c Zazai b Yamin 0 4
Soumya lbw b Nabi 17 66
Liton b Rashid 33 66
Mominul c Asghar b Nabi 52 71
Shakib lbw b Rashid 11 20
Mushfiq c Ibrahim b Rashid 0 2
Mahmudullah b Rashid 7 13
Mosaddek not out 48 82
Miraz b Qais 11 31
Taijul b Nabi 14 58
Nayeem lbw b Rashid 7 12
Extras (b 4, lb 1) 5
Total (70.5 Overs) 205 all out
1-0 (Shadman), 2-38 (Soumya), 3-54 (Liton), 4-88 (Shakib), 5-88 (Mushfiq), 6-104 (Mahmudullah), 7-130 (Mominul Haque), 8-146 (Miraz), 9-194 (Taijul), 10-205 (Nayeem)
Bowling
Yamin 10-2-21-1, Nabi 24-6-56-3, Zahir 9-1-46-0, Rashid 19.5-3-55-5, Qais 8-2-22-1
AFGHANISTAN 2ND INNINGS R B
Ihsanullah lbw b Shakib 4 3
Ibrahim c Mominul b Nayeem87 208
Rahmat c & b Shakib 0 1
Shahidi c Soumya b Nayeem 12 37
Asghar c Shakib b Taijul 50 108
Zazai not out 34 83
Nabi c Mominul b Miraz 8 13
Rashid b Taijul 24 22
Qais lbw b Shakib 14 26
Yamin not out 0 1
Extras (b 4) 4
Total (83.4 Overs) 237/8
Fall Of Wickets
1-4 (Ihsanullah), 2-4 (Rahmat), 3-28 (Shahidi), 4-136 (Asghar), 5-171 (Ibrahim), 6-180 (Nabi), 7-210 (Rashid), 8-235 (Qais)
Bowling
Shakib 16-3-53-3, Miraz 12-3-35-1, Taijul 24.4-5-68-2, Nayeem 17-2-61-2, Mominul 10-6-13-0, Mosaddek 4-1-3-0
Afghanistan lead by 374 runs