Bangladesh crush Afghanistan by 546 runs; Taskin grabs career-best 4-37

DHAKA: Bangladesh crushed Afghanistan by 546 runs Saturday to secure the biggest Test victory margin by runs in nearly 90 years, with Taskin Ahmed grabbing a career-best 4-37. The match ended in the extended opening session of the fourth day in Dhaka after a Taskin bouncer hit Zahir Khan, forcing the final batsman to retire hurt. The visitors barely made a dent in the mammoth target of 662, giving the hosts the biggest Test win by runs since Australia’s 562-run victory over England in 1934. “This win is obviously very satisfying,” skipper Liton Das told reporters.

“The batsmen should be given some credit because the wicket was not that easy,” he added. “You cannot ask for more after winning by this kind of margin.” It was more than double Bangladesh’s previous record win – by 226 runs over Zimbabwe at Chittagong in 2005. The Bangladesh triumph was all but guaranteed after they declared their second innings at 425-4 in Friday’s final session. Afghanistan stumbled quickly, losing Ibrahim Zadran for a duck off the first ball of the innings and resuming on Saturday at a precarious 45-2.

The tourists showed little improvement on the fourth day and lost wickets at regular intervals, with Taskin and Shoriful Islam leading the Bangladesh attack. ‘Very disappointing’ Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott lamented a “very disappointing” defeat to mark his side’s first Test in more than two years. “There were some slight moments of good cricket from us, but not enough and not consistent enough,” he said. Trott said the tourists were “lacking in all three disciplines” and needed to improve their mentality.

“It’s always good to have a Test match and play well, but not when you perform like that,” he added. Taskin was denied his maiden five-wicket haul when he bowled last man Zahir Khan in the 33rd over of the innings, only for the umpire to signal a no ball. Afghanistan lost a wicket in the third over of the morning when Nasir Jamal edged Ebadot Hossain to the keeper. Shoriful, who claimed 3-28, forced Afsar Zazai to give a catch to Mehidy Hasan at gully five overs later.

It brought Bahir Shah to the crease as a concussion sub for skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who retired hurt after he was hit by a Taskin bouncer on the third day. But Bahir also failed to survive long as Taskin forced him to give a catch to Taijul Islam at slip for seven. Liton brought an end to Rahmat Shah’s dogged innings of 30 from 73 balls with a catch behind the stumps off Taskin.

Karim Janat showed some aggression, hitting two sixes before Taskin bowled him for 18. Spinner Mehidy Hasan joined the act by removing Amir Hamza for five to leave Afghanistan eight down, and Taskin did the rest. Bangladesh made 382 runs on a green wicket in the first innings and bowled out Afghanistan for 146 to take a 236-run lead.Afghanistan won the only other Test between the two teams when they beat Bangladesh by 224 runs at Chittagong in 2019.- AFP