Bangladesh crush Afghanistan by record 546 runs to secure biggest Test victory margin by runs

Bangladesh secured a monumental Test victory against Afghanistan, winning by a staggering margin of 546 runs. The match, which concluded in the extended opening session of the fourth day, showcased Bangladesh’s dominance in all aspects of the game. Taskin Ahmed emerged as the star performer, claiming a career-best figure of 4-37 to dismantle the Afghan batting lineup.

The highlight of the match came when a fierce bouncer from Taskin struck Zahir Khan, causing the final batsman to retire hurt. This unfortunate incident marked the end of Afghanistan’s resistance as they struggled to make a significant impact in their pursuit of a mammoth target of 662 runs. The visitors were dismissed for a meager 116, handing Bangladesh the largest Test victory by runs in nearly 90 years.

This remarkable triumph shattered Bangladesh’s previous record of a 226-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chittagong back in 2005. The home side’s confidence was bolstered when they declared their second innings at 425-4 on the final session of Friday, leaving Afghanistan with an insurmountable task ahead.

Afghanistan’s batting woes were evident from the outset as they lost opener Ibrahim Zadran for a duck off the very first ball of their innings. Resuming on Saturday at a precarious 45-2, the visitors failed to mount a significant comeback. They lost wickets at regular intervals, with Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam spearheading Bangladesh’s impressive bowling attack.

Taskin came agonizingly close to claiming his maiden five-wicket haul when he dismissed Zahir Khan in the 33rd over. However, his efforts were thwarted by a no-ball signal from the umpire. Afghanistan suffered another blow when Nasir Jamal fell for six in the third over of the morning, caught behind the stumps off the bowling of Ebadot Hossain.

Shoriful Islam, who contributed with figures of 3-28, played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s downfall. His skillful bowling forced Afsar Zazai to offer a catch to Mehidy Hasan at gully after scoring just six runs. Bahir Shah replaced the injured captain Hasmatullah Shahidi as a concussion substitute but failed to make a substantial impact, falling for seven after providing a catch to Taijul Islam at slip.

Liton Das displayed excellent wicketkeeping skills, ending Rahmat Shah’s gritty innings of 30 from 73 balls with a catch off Taskin’s bowling. Karim Janat briefly displayed some aggression, hitting two sixes before Taskin bowled him for 18. Spinner Mehidy Hasan joined the act by dismissing Amir Hamza for five, leaving Afghanistan reeling at eight down.

Bangladesh’s triumph was rooted in their exceptional performance in the first innings, where they managed to score 382 runs on a challenging green wicket. Their bowling attack proved too formidable for Afghanistan, bundling them out for a paltry 146 and securing a commanding lead of 236 runs.

This historic victory holds special significance for Bangladesh as it avenges their defeat against Afghanistan in the only other Test encounter between the two teams. In 2019, Afghanistan emerged victorious with a comprehensive 224-run win in Chittagong. However, this time around, Bangladesh left no room for doubt, demonstrating their prowess on home soil.