<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Najmul Hossain struck an unbeaten century to guide free-flowing Bangladesh to 235-2 at tea on Wednesday's opening day of their one-off Test against Afghanistan.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Najmul led the charge after the hosts were sent in to bat on a green surface at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>He was 126 not out at the break after scoring his third Test century, while opener Mahmudul Hasan made his third fifty on his way to 76.</div><div><br></div><div>Former captain Mominul Haque was unbeaten on 11 at the interval alongside Najmul, who has hit 21 fours and one six so far.</div><div><br></div><div>Najmul and Mahmudul put on 212 runs in the second wicket partnership after they came together in the second over of the innings.</div><div><br></div><div>Occasional spinner Rahmat Shah broke their partnership when Mahumdul attempted a cut shot only to edge a catch to Ibrahim Zadran at slip.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahmudul hit nine boundaries in his sedate 137-ball innings.</div><div><br></div><div>Debutant pacer Nijat Masood was the only other Afghanistan bowler with any success, removing opener Zakir Hasan for one with his first Test delivery in the day's second over.</div><div><br></div><div>Zakir was initially declared not out by the on-field umpire but the replay indicated that the left-hander had nicked the ball to wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai.</div><div>Najmul hit back-to-back fours off Yamin Ahmadzai in the next over to deny Afghanistan further momentum.</div><div><br></div><div>A single off Amir Hamza earned him his hundred off 118 balls.</div><div><br></div><div>Afghanistan won the only Test between the two teams when they beat the home side by 224 runs at Chittagong in 2019. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>