Hasans Hat-Trick Gives Bangladesh First-Innings Lead

Bangladesh right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud added a new chapter to the country’s Test cricket history with an outstanding bowling performance against Afghanistan in the Abu Dhabi Test. He claimed five wickets for 55 runs in 21 overs, including five maiden overs, marking the fourth five-wicket haul of his 17-match Test career.

Soon after play began on the third day, Bangladesh opted to take the second new ball. In the third over of the day, Ebadot Hossain struck by dismissing Ikram. The ball, pitched outside the off stump, moved back into the batter and slipped through the gap between his bat and pad before hitting the stumps. The dismissal gave Ebadot his third wicket of the innings.

Hasan Mahmud then produced a remarkable spell in the 83rd over of Afghanistan’s innings, dismissing Ismat, Qais and Ziaur Rahman in three consecutive deliveries. With this achievement, Hasan became the third Bangladeshi bowler overall and the first fast bowler from the country to take a hat-trick in Test cricket. It was also the only hat-trick recorded in international Test cricket so far this year.

The hat-trick began with the third ball of the 83rd over, when a back-of-a-length delivery kept low and moved into Ismat, sending his stumps crashing. On the next delivery, Qais edged the ball, and Litton Das dived to his right at slip to take a brilliant catch. On the fifth ball of the over, the on-field umpire turned down a strong appeal for leg before wicket against Ziaur Rahman. However, Bangladesh opted for a review, and the TV umpire overturned the decision, declaring the batter out.

Before Hasan, Bangladesh’s only other Test hat-tricks had been taken by leg-spinner Alok Kapali in 2003 and off-spinner Sohag Gazi in 2013.

In reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 346, Afghanistan were bowled out for 240. Rahmat Shah top-scored with 105, while Abdul Malik contributed 62.

Hasan Mahmud claimed five wickets for Bangladesh, while Ebadot Hossain picked up four. Bangladesh secured a first-innings lead of 106 runs.