Need to learn how to create more chances on such wickets: Shanto
Bangladesh had to settle for a draw in their one-off Test against Afghanistan after the hosts produced a brilliant batting display at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Resuming the final day at 132 for three while chasing a mammoth target of 479, Afghanistan rode on a century from Sediqullah Atal and resistance from the tailenders -- including an unbeaten 49 from Qais Ahmad -- to survive 92 overs yesterday.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said he was not frustrated by the Tigers' failure to bowl out Afghanistan in an innings that lasted around one-and-a-half days and 142 overs, but he had a message for his bowling group.
“I think the bowlers need to learn how to create more opportunities on these types of wickets if such conditions come up in the future,” Shanto said at the post-match press conference in Abu Dhabi.
The Tigers had opportunities to secure a victory, but fielding errors allowed Afghanistan to escape with a draw, with just two wickets remaining.
Acknowledging those mistakes, Shanto said there were lessons to be learned. Bangladesh's spinners, in particular, came under scrutiny after struggling to take wickets on a placid fifth-day track.
“I agree that we made mistakes [on the field] since in these kinds of conditions, opportunities are hard to come by. You will see that we don’t play five days like this too many times. Usually matches end on day four or first session of day five, whether we win or lose. So this was a new experience.
“How to stay in the game for long time and taking opportunities even when tired or bowling well even when we are tired, these experiences will help. In slow wickets where there is not much help, how the spinners can get wickets are things we can learn from. Maybe we had shortcomings this game but I won’t say the bowlers bowled badly,” Shanto added.
Hasan Mahmud claimed a hattrick in the first innings, becoming the first Bangladesh pacer to achieve the feat in Tests. Pacers did the heavy lifting in that innings, with Hasan and Ebadot Hossain combining to take nine wickets. In the second innings, however, the onus was on the spinners to make the difference, with wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das having backed them to deliver a day earlier.
Despite off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissing Yamin Ahmadzai late in the final session yesterday, Bangladesh failed to finish the job and watched a victory slip away -- a result that had looked increasingly likely for much of the contest.
Bangladesh will now turn their attention to a tri-nation ODI series, also featuring Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, in the UAE, starting on October 17. However, they have little time to recover from the drawn Test before West Indies arrive in Bangladesh for a two-match Test series beginning on October 28. The spinners may have to play a bigger role at home if the Tigers are to keep their World Test Championship hopes alive.
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