5:45pm A few Afghanistan players come up to Mahmudullah and offer a congratulatory handshake. He may not have gotten to his hundred, but this was a knock that had class written all over it. Very early during it, he picked up a back injury, although if you watched him bat, you'd never have guessed he was being plagued by it.

He kept things ticking throughout his innings and was helped by Mehidy holding firm at the other end. Bangladesh's stand-in skipper notched up a fifty too and they stitched together a 145-run stand (a record-breaking partnership for Bangladesh in Sharjah), which eventually helped them get past the 240-run mark.

Afghanistan were a little patchy with the ball. They gave away too many runs at the start and then lost the plot as the Mahmudullah-Mehidy partnership grew. But right towards the end, Omarzai picked up wickets and ensured that Bangladesh did not cross 250. This still looks like a steep chase, considering the conditions, but Afghanistan have the quality to last the distance. Join Himanshu in a bit for the second innings.

Najmul Hossain Shanto: Very happy. The way we started, the first ten overs we batted brilliantly. After that, we didn't execute our shots properly. But then the partnership (during the middle overs), very happy. Brilliant batting - the way Miraz showed his calmness. That was the plan and he (Mahmudullah) showed his experience, batting just one ball at a time. Little disappointed that he could not score his hundred but the team is in a good position. The conditions are a little different in the night. (On his injury) Feeling a little uncomfortable, hope I will be fine.

Last ball coming up. Five-for or hundred? Or neither? The crowd comes to life too

Shoriful is the new batter in. If he gets it in the middle of his bat, the ball can fly. But he might want to get his more experienced partner on strike. Around the wicket

Omarzai to bowl the last over. Can Mahmudullah get to his hundred? Can Bangladesh get to 250?