Asghar-Afsar take Afghanistan to day's end

5:30 pm: It's Stumps on Day 1. Afghanistan have not lost any more wickets since Nayeem Hasan's double strike in the 70th over. 96 overs played in the day. Asghar remained unbeaten on 88 while Afsar Zazai is on 35. Bangladesh bowlers got through their overs very quickly as evidenced by the number of overs but Afghanistan were given a strong platform thanks to Rahmat Shah, who became Afghanistan's first-ever Test centurion and Asghar. Taijul shone in the morning session, becoming the fastest to reach the mark of 100 Test wickets for the Tigers in Tests. While the morning session belonged to Bangladesh, Rahmat and Asghar's 120-run partnership kept Tigers at bay post lunch. Following Tea, Rahmat fell the next ball after reaching his ton before Mohammad Nabi was gone in the same over. Afsar Zazai accompanied Asghar to guide Afghanistan to the end of the day in a strong position. 

5:05 pm: End of the 90 overs. Still some time left till end of the day and so play continues

85.4 - Afg 249/5: Afsar decided to take on Miraz and whacks the spinner for six over mid wicket. 50 partnership between Afsar and Asghar.

4:25 pm: End of 80 overs and the new ball is available for Bangladesh.

70.2 - Afg 199/5: A single gets Asghar his second Test fifty. Two fours and a six in that innings. Two quick wickets have brought Bangladesh back into the game.

69.6 - Afg 197/5: Mohammad Nabi b Nayeem Hasan 0 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00 Ball kept low and turned slightly. Skidded on and crashed into the off stump as he bags his second wicket of the over.

69.3 - Afg 197/4: Rahmat Shah cut Nayeem Hasan for four to become the first-ever Afghan batsman to score a Test ton but he falls next delivery. Rahmat Shah c Soumya Sarkar b Nayeem Hasan 102 (187b 10x4 2x6) SR: 54.54 A flighted one from Nayeem draws Rahmat forward. Perhaps lacking focus right after his ton, he edges the straighter delivery to Soumya at slip cordon.

3:29 pm: The players are back onto the field following tea. 68 overs have already been bowled in the first two sessions.

Both Rahmat Shah and Ashghar Afghan were nearing personal landmarks as Tea was called on day one of the one-off Test between Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Rahmat was one short of his highest Test score, remaining unbeaten on 97 while Asghar was on 48 at Tea. The Afghan duo piled on the misery for the Tigers after winning the toss and electing to bat. The first session had belonged to Bangladesh with Taijul bagging two and Riyad one but Afghanistan have come back into the match brilliantly.

3:10 pm: It's Tea on day one. Afghanistan are in a strong position. The partnership stands at 114 runs. 

64.1 - Afg 181/3: Loud appeal from Mehedi who feels he has his man in Asghar out leg-before. The umpire agrees but the batsman takes a review. Pitching outside off and missing the stumps. The umpire reverses his decision. Not out. 

61.1 - Afg 177/3: Rahmat cuts Taijul away for four to move to the 90s and the boundary also takes the partnership to 100. The duo in the middle have got the measure of the pitch now with both near personal landmarks. Tea is coming up shortly.

50.3 - Afg 150/3:  A single off Nayeem Hasan takes Afghanistan to 150. The partnership since the fall of the third wicket has been really strong. There had been one or two lucky moments when bad shots did not quite go the Tigers' way.

46.5 - Afg 127/3: Rahmat works a single to bring up the fifty partnership off 85 deliveries between him and Asghar. Afghanistan have tried to take the attack to the bowlers whenever possible with this pair at the crease. Scoring rate picked up once Ashgar came to the crease before lunch. Soumya, the only seamer in the Bangladesh lineup has conceeded a few runs after coming into the attack. Shakib looked to gamble but letting the Afghan pair take risks but it has not paid off yet.

41.2 - Afg 106/3: Rahmat Shah nudges Mehedi Miraz for a single to bring up his half century off 85 deliveries. Three fours and two sixes in his innings so far.

1:28 pm: Play restarts

1:15 pm: The covers are coming off. It was a passing shower and the wind predictably blew the rain clouds away. Play set to resume soon. 

1:05 pm and rain has taken centre stage for the time being at Chattogram's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Afghanistan will be happy with their progress after lunch with Asghar and Rahmat doing well to keep a partnership going. 

Afg 105/3: Asghar 10* (27b) Rahmat 49* (83)

39.2 - Afg 104/3: A chance after lunch but Shadman drops Asghar Afghan at silly point off Mehedi. Difficult and sharp chance. Afghanistan have reach 100 following lunch with Asghar and Rahmat standing guard.

Afghanistan had their spirit dented just before lunch as they lost their first wicket but they have performed commendably against a far stronger Bangladesh side, especially with the Tigers playing in the dustbowl of Chattogram. The Afghans will be hoping to build further while the Tigers will be on the prowl once the match resumes.

With the penultimate ball before lunch, Mahmudullah Riyad strikes in his first over of the match as Shakib's gamble pays off. A ball angles in to the left-handed Hasmatullah Shah Osu and takes the edge through to Soumya Sarkar at first slip. Afghanistan 77 for 3 (Rahmat Shah 30) FOW: Hashmatullah Shahidi c Soumya Sarkar b Mahmudullah 14 (32b 2x4 0x6)

Taijul Islam strikes again, removing opener Ibrahim Zadran. The Afghans had become increasingly agressive over the past few overs, hitting a few boundaries, including a beautiful stroke from Rahmat Shah which took Shakib Al Hasan for six. However this is one hit too many. Ibrahim's heave goes into the air and lands safely in the arms of Mahmudullah Riyad. Afghanistan 48 for 2 (Rahmat Shah 17, Hasmatullah 0) FOW: Ibrahim Zadran c Mahmudullah b Taijul Islam 21 (69b 3x4 0x6)

Taijul Islam strikes with a peach of a delivery and has Ihsanullah bowled for nine. This makes Taijul the fastest Bangladeshi to 100 Test wickets in terms of matches. Afghanistan 19-1 (Ibrahim 10, Rahmat 0) FOW: Ihsanullah b Taijul Islam 9 (36b 0x4 0x6)

Afghanistan have reached 15 without loss after 10 overs on the opening day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh. Ibrahim Zadran is on nine while Ihsanullah is batting on 6. There were two decisions referred to the third umpire for stumping, on Mehedi Hasan Miraz's bowling both times, but the decisions were simple not outs in the end.

Bangladesh have gone with four spinners in the line-up, indicating that the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium will be a dustbowl yet again. More telling, they have not included a single pacer in the line up. The Tigers can turn to Soumya Sarkar for a seaming option if the need arises. Afghanistan also have four spinners in the side.

Afghanistan, led by the youngest-ever Test captain Rashid Khan, have won the toss and elected to bat.

"It's a proud moment for me to be leading the team at such a young age," Rashid, 20 years and 350 days old, said after winning the toss.

He added that the weather would not be too much of a worry for his side, who have dealt with harsher conditions in Abu Dhabi recently.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was disappointed to have lost the toss, but said there was little reason to fret. "We would have liked to bat first but the toss is not in our control. We have to start well and keep putting the pressure on the opposition," Shakib said. "The boys are up for the challenge. Afghanistan are a tough opponent but we're up for the challenge. We have to get everything together and put a good show on the pitch. It is very exciting for both sides to be playing against each other in the Test format for the first time."

Teams

Afghanistan: Ihsanullah, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Afsar Zazai (wk), Rashid Khan (capt), Yamin Ahmadzai, Qais Ahmed, Zahir Khan

Bangladesh: Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mahmudullah, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan