Hasan takes test hat trick as first Bangladeshi fast bowler

Hasan Mahmud has become the first Bangladeshi fast bowler to take a hat trick in Test cricket. It is also the first Test hat trick by any bowler from any country this year. Hasan took five wickets for just 55 runs in 21 overs, including five maidens, in Afghanistan’s first innings. This is his fourth five wicket haul in his 17 match Test career.

Bangladesh took the second new ball at the start of the third day of the Abu Dhabi Test. Hasan and Ebadot made excellent use of the new ball. The first breakthrough of the day came through Ebadot in the third over. The delivery pitched outside the off stump before swinging sharply inward. It passed through the gap between Ikram’s bat and pad and struck the stumps directly. This was Ebadot’s third wicket of the innings.

Hasan Mahmud then took center stage. He dismissed Ismat, Qais and Zia ur Rahman on the third, fourth and fifth balls of the 83rd over of Afghanistan’s innings. Hasan became the third Bangladeshi bowler to take a Test hat trick. The two bowlers who achieved the feat before him were both spinners: Alok Kapali in 2003 and Sohag Gazi in 2013.

Hasan’s third delivery was back of a length and kept low as it moved inward. Ismat was bowled. The next delivery edged off Qais’s bat and headed toward the slips, where Litton Das dived to his right and took an excellent catch. Hasan trapped Zia ur Rahman leg before wicket on the fifth ball. Although the umpire initially ruled him not out, Bangladesh successfully overturned the decision through a review.

Notably, Afghanistan began the third day with 211 runs for four wickets. Bangladesh’s first innings had ended at 346 runs. Despite the big total, no Bangladeshi batter scored a century. Tanzid Tamim made 83, Shadman Islam scored 67 and Litton Das contributed 53.

Afghanistan’s first innings ended at 240 runs. They trail Bangladesh by 106 runs.