Rahmat Shah scored 102 off 187 balls on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Bangladesh © Getty

March 16, 2019 is a date that probably served as an annoying reminder of what could have been for Rahmat Shah. For it was on this day that the Afghanistan No. 3 missed out on a golden opportunity to make it to an elite list of Test cricketers who scored the first hundred for their country. Batting on 98 in the first innings of the one-off Test against Ireland, Shah looked to cut a length delivery from Tim Murtagh but all he could manage was a chop-on to the stumps, denying the Afghanistan batsman a well-deserved three-figure score.

But that wretched date in March will be well forgotten now for Shah, who had his named etched in Test cricket's history with a knock of 102 against a spin-heavy Bangladesh attack at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Thursday (September 5) to become the first Afghanistan Test centurion.

"I had the dream to become the first centurion for Afghanistan. So naturally I was very upset when I got out scoring 98 against Ireland. Today I got the chance and scored the century. It is a proud moment for me. I am the first person to have the first half century [in Tests] for the country and now the century," Shah told reporters at the end of the first day's play.

What made his performance all the more memorable was the situation Afghanistan were in, against a team known to flatten oppositions with their proven weapon called spin. With an attack that didn't have a single specialist quick, Bangladesh rode on their spin strength to reduce Afghanistan to 77 for 3. But Shah trusted his front-foot and a steely resolve that helped script Afghanistan's comeback as they ended the day at 271 for 5.

"The wicket was good to bat on especially when the ball was new. When the ball was new, it was disturbing the batsman but as one settled down it became easy to play. It was my plan to play on the front foot. They were bowling in good line and length and had a good field setup for me. It was not easy for me to score runs that is why I was using the crease and coming on the front foot as well," said Shah about his modus operandi.

In an innings that included 10 fours and two sixes, Shah played some attractive shots en route his maiden hundred and was involved in a 120-run stand with former skipper Asghan Afghan, who was unbeaten on 88 at the end of the day's play. It was an admirable batting display considering the way they handled an experienced spin attack.

"They are not at all ordinary spinners. They have a very good spin attack especially with Shakib Al Hasan. He is the number one spinner in the world and also Taijul Islam got good record in Test cricket and as well Mehidy Hasan. We had our minds set for the fast bowlers but they have got spinners in the attack," said Shah, who added that they reflected on their experience of playing in the Intercontinental Cup.

"We played a lot of limited cricket in international arena but we also played Intercontinental Cup which is a four-day cricket tournament. We won that tournament twice and we got to learn a lot about longer version cricket from that tournament. There is not much difference in four-day and five-day cricket."