Bangladesh lost two set batters late in the day but still ended the third day in the driver’s seat, reaching 223-6 in their second innings, leading Afghanistan by 329 runs in the one-off Test at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Sunday.

Mushfiqur Rahim and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto looked destined to bring up their respective centuries but both fell short, with the former getting caught at 81 and the latter getting bowled for 82.

Bangladesh’s last recognised batters, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, were batting on five and 0 respectively at stumps. 

Earlier in the day, Hasan Mahmud grabbed the spotlight by becoming the first Bangladeshi pacer to claim a hat-trick in Test cricket.

The pacer finished with figures of 5-55 as Afghanistan could add just 29 runs to their overnight 211-4 before getting bundled out for 240, handing Bangladesh a 106-run lead.

Skipper Rahmat Shah remained unbeaten on 105 but could not find any support from the other end.

Bangladesh’s innings started off on the wrong foot, with them losing three wickets for 53 runs inside 15 overs.

But the partnership between Mushfiq and Shanto brought Bangladesh back on top.

Both batters departed against the run of play, with Mushfiq getting caught off Zia-ur-Rehman while trying to scoop the left-arm spinner, but top-edging the ball to the first slip, while Shanto missed a sharp turning delivery from leg-spinner Qais Ahmed and lost his stumps.

Hasan, who came out as a nightwatchman, could stay around for just six balls before getting trapped LBW by Zia as Miraz had to come out and face the final ball of the day.

Earlier, Bangladesh had posted 346 in their first innings.