A spirited comeback from the Afghan pace unit shaped the narrative on the opening day of the one-off Test, pulling the contest right back into balance after Bangladesh's dominant start. By the close of play on Day 1, Bangladesh finished their first innings at 317 for the loss of 8 wickets. Lower-order batters Nayeem Hasan and Taijul Islam remained unbeaten at the crease when stumps were drawn. Of the eight wickets that fell throughout the day, seven were claimed by the trio of Mohammad Saleem, Yamin Ahmadzai, and Ismat Alam, who exploited the conditions brilliantly as the day progressed.
Tanzid Hasan Leads Top-Order Charge With Rapid Knock
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh's top-order batters laid down a solid platform through proactive and aggressive strokeplay. Opener Tanzid Hasan took the attack directly to the opposition bowlers during the morning session. Displaying pristine timing and positive intent, he blazed his way to an 83-run knock off only 71 deliveries, peppering the boundary ropes with eight fours and clearing them with four towering sixes. Although he appeared set for a magnificent three-figure milestone, he fell short of the century mark just as he seemed completely untroubled.
Fifties for Shadman and Litton Precede a Middle-Order Wobble
Alongside Tanzid's fireworks, Shadman Islam and middle-order stalwart Litton Das compiled composed half-centuries to consolidate the position. Thanks to their steady contributions, Bangladesh appeared in total control through the middle of the second session, cruising along comfortably at 221 for 2. However, the game turned on its head when Afghanistan's seam attack found sudden breakthroughs, snaring three quick wickets for the addition of just 4 runs. That devastating burst stalled Bangladesh's momentum and pushed them onto the back foot.
Litton and Mehidy Rebuild Before Ahmadzai's Flying Catch
Under pressure following the flurry of dismissals, Litton Das joined forces with Mehidy to steady the innings. The duo stitched together a resilient 62-run stand for the sixth wicket, frustrating the fielding side. For Litton, this half-century was a welcome return to form after enduring a dry spell where he registered three ducks in his previous three Test innings in Australia. Litton reached 53 off 89 deliveries, laced with four boundaries, before falling to a sensational piece of fielding. Right before the second new ball became available, Yamin Ahmadzai produced a diving catch near the fine-leg boundary to send him packing.
Afghanistan's Seamers Script a Determined Turnaround
Afghanistan's bowlers had to toil hard through the opening exchanges, struggling to contain the scoring rate while the surface offered true bounce. Nevertheless, their persistence was rewarded from the post-lunch phase onwards as they adjusted their lengths to extract errors. By the conclusion of play, fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets, while Yamin Ahmadzai and Ismat Alam chipped in with 2 scalps each. Nayeem and Taijul held firm through the final overs to ensure no further damage occurred ahead of the second morning.
