Afghanistan seamers fight back on opening day after Bangladesh's dominant start

Afghanistan clawed their way back into the contest after Bangladesh's dominant start on the opening day of the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi.

Bangladesh, who had raced off to 124 for no-loss inside 23 overs, were reeled back in and finished the day on 317 for 8. Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam and Litton Das scored half-centuries for Bangladesh, but a collapse of three wickets for four runs in the second session undid much of their early progress. Fast bowlers Mohammad Saleem, Yamin Ahmadzai and Ismat Alam shared seven wickets between them to keep the visitors in check.

Bangladesh began the day on the front foot, opting to bat on a flat-looking pitch. Tanzid led the charge in a 124-run opening partnership with Shadman. The left-hander struck 83 off just 71 deliveries, peppering the boundary with eight fours and four sixes. He repeatedly used his feet against the pace bowlers, finding gaps on the off side, and also took on the spinners with three sixes down the ground.

Tanzid's innings featured a series of crisp drives and attacking strokes, including a slice over point and a six over extra cover off Ahmadzai. However, his attempt to continue the assault proved costly when Ismat induced an edge behind the stumps. Tanzid fell short of Tamim Iqbal's record for the most runs (86) by a Bangladesh batter in the first session of a Test.

Shadman took on a more attacking role after lunch, putting on 60 with Mominul Haque for the second wicket. He brought up his ninth Test half-century but fell for 67 off 111 balls, finding Zia-ur-Rehman at square leg off a short ball. Ahmadzai then dismissed Mominul for 39 before cleaning up Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck.

Najmul Hossain Shanto had looked assured during his stay, but Qais Ahmed found an edge to remove the Bangladesh captain for 29. The quick succession of wickets saw Bangladesh go from 221 for 3 to 225 for 5 after they had appeared firmly in control. Litton and Mehidy Hasan Miraz helped steady the innings with a 62-run stand for the sixth wicket. Mehidy played a patient supporting role, scoring 24 from 67 balls with only one boundary, while Litton gradually found his rhythm.

Litton's fifty was particularly significant after he had registered three consecutive ducks during Bangladesh's recent Test engagements in Australia. He made 53 off 89 deliveries, striking four boundaries, before Ahmadzai completed a diving catch near the fine-leg boundary. Saleem struck again later in the same over, bowling Hasan Mahmud with a yorker. The pair of Nayeem Hasan and Taijul Islam batted out the final four overs before close of play and will hope to take the total close to 350 on the second morning.

Day 1 brief scores: Bangladesh 317/8 (Tanzid Hasan 83, Shadman Islam 67, Litton Das 53; Mohammad Saleem Safi 3-70) vs Afghanistan