AFG vs BAN, Only Test — Day 2 Stumps: Bangladesh 346 & Afghanistan 211/4, Trail by 135 as Rahmat Shah's 84* Anchors the Reply

If the first day in Abu Dhabi belonged to Bangladesh's openers, the second belonged to a man who has made a career of being the calm one in Afghanistan's batting order. Rahmat Shah came in with his side 64 for 2, watched a promising stand turn into a wobble at 139 for 4, and was still there at stumps on 84 not out after 186 balls. Afghanistan finished the day on 211 for 4, 135 behind, and very much alive in this one-off Test.

It was a day of slow, steady accumulation — 211 runs in 79 overs — and a reminder that a Test on a flat Abu Dhabi surface is often won not by the side with the flashiest batters but by the side that bats longest.

Bangladesh resumed on 317 for 8 and Afghanistan took the new ball almost straight away. Nayeem Hasan survived an Afghan review in the first over of the day (umpire's call), and he and Taijul Islam added to a ninth-wicket stand that reached 30 before Mohammad Saleem struck again — Taijul caught behind by Ikram Alikhil for 9, a decision Afghanistan won on review. Yamin Ahmadzai then had Ebadot Hossain caught by Zia-ur-Rehman, and Bangladesh were all out for 346 in 92.3 overs. Nayeem was left unbeaten on 35. Saleem finished with 4 for 82, Yamin with 3 for 79.

Afghanistan's reply began with a let-off: Sediqullah Atal survived a Bangladesh review in the very first over. He made 17 before Hasan Mahmud had him caught by Tanzid Hasan in the 11th over, 30 for 1, and Afghanistan went to lunch on 34 for 1.

Ebadot Hossain removed Shahidullah for 20, caught by Hasan Mahmud, to make it 64 for 2, but that brought Rahmat Shah to join Abdul Malik and the next hour was Afghanistan's best of the match so far. Malik reached his fifty off 87 balls with four fours and a six, the pair added 70 off 151 balls, and at tea Afghanistan were 131 for 2.

Bangladesh hit back straight after tea. Ebadot had Malik caught behind by Litton Das for 62 in the 46th over, 134 for 3, and five balls later Mehidy Hasan Miraz had Hashmatullah Shahidi stumped by Litton for a two-ball duck. Afghanistan were 139 for 4, the captain gone without scoring, and suddenly the deficit looked very large.

What followed was a session of pure Test-match endurance. Rahmat and Ikram Alikhil batted for 32.2 overs without giving Bangladesh a chance that stuck. Their stand took 159 balls to reach 50; Rahmat reached his own half-century off 112. Ikram faced 91 balls for his 26, and the pair were unseparated at 72 when stumps arrived with Afghanistan 211 for 4.

Bangladesh bowled with real discipline but not much penetration once the ball softened. Ebadot was the threat, with 2 for 50 including the key wicket of Malik, but also the most expensive at four and a half an over. Mehidy (20-7-37-1) and Taijul (21-4-44-0) were tidy, and Hasan Mahmud's 16 overs cost only 36. Between them Mehidy and Taijul bowled 41 overs for one wicket, and on a pitch that has given batters time, that is the figure Bangladesh's think tank will dwell on.

Afghanistan's batting has not always had the patience for long Tests, but Day 2 showed both sides of what it needs. Malik showed he can score: a 120-ball 62 with a six thrown in. Rahmat showed what it takes to stay. He has played 186 balls for his 84, hit eight fours and a six, and has quietly turned a wobble into a platform. Ikram's 26 off 91 will not stand out on a highlights reel, but at 139 for 4 it was worth far more than its number.

Afghanistan comfortably passed the follow-on target of 147 and now need another 136 to take a first-innings lead. With six wickets in hand, that is a realistic Day 3 target.

This Test didn't have a CricIntel preview, so there is no prediction to grade. We'll be tracking it every day until the result.

Everything hangs on the Rahmat–Ikram stand in the first hour. Bangladesh will want Ebadot and Hasan Mahmud fresh at the start of play and their spinners attacking from the other end, because a wicket there exposes Afghanistan's lower order with the deficit still above 100. Afghanistan will be dreaming of Rahmat's hundred and a first-innings lead. Whoever wins the morning will be the side shaping the final two days.