Bangladesh's star batter Najmul Hossain Shanto scripted history after cracking twin centuries in the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Shere Bangla stadium in Mirpur on Friday (June 16). Following brilliant ton in the first innings, Shanto cracked a robust 124 off 151 in Bangladesh's fourth innings to help his team surge towards a big target. With the exceptional back-to-back century Shanto became just the second Bangladeshi batter to belt tons in both the innings of a Test match. The 24-year-old whacked 15 fours in his impressive knock.
Notably, Mominul Haq clobbered 176 and 105 runs in both the Bangladesh's innings against Sri Lanka in Chittagong back in 2018. In another feat, Shanto also became the first cricketer to wallop twin centuries one Test against Afghanistan. Overall Nazmul Hossain Shanto became the 91st cricketer to do so in Tests.
Shanto's feat doesn't stop here as he also found his place in an elite list of active players who have struck twin centuries in a Test match. Notably, India's star batters Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have also achieved the rare feat earlier.
Active players to hit twin centuries in a Test match
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Ajinkya Rahane
Steve Smith
David Warner
Shai Hope
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Mominul Haque
Jonny Bairstow
Imam Ul Haq
Najmul Hossain Shanto
However, Zahir Khan removed Shanto in the 54th over when Bangladesh's scoreboard read 274/3. Mominul Haque took up the mantle of Bangladesh batting and cracked a magnificent century after Shanto's dismissal. As of 79 overs, Mominul has notched 121 off 143 riding on 12 fours and a six to take Bangladesh's score to 424/4. With this Bangladesh have maintained an unassailable lead of 660 runs. Litton Das too chipped in with 65 off 77 runs riding on eight fours and still intact on the crease alongwith Mominul.
Earlier in the first innings, Bangladesh rode on Shanto's exceptional 146 off 175 to post a total of 382 despite Nijat Masood's five-wicket haul. In reply, Afghanistani batters fell like a house of cards and were bundled out for a paltry 146, thanks to Ebadon Hossain's 4/47.
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