Sediqullah Atal frustrated Bangladesh’s bowlers with an unbeaten 66 as Afghanistan reached 203-4 at lunch on the final day of the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi, leaving the visitors needing six more wickets to secure victory.
Chasing 479, Afghanistan still require 276 runs to win, with Atal holding one end and Ismat Alam yet to score at the break.
Afghanistan resumed Tuesday on 132-3, with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Atal at the crease. But Shahidi had to retire hurt for 20 early in the morning after a throw struck his leg pad while he attempted a single off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He had already been struggling with a leg problem and could not continue after receiving treatment on the field.
Ikram Alikhil joined Atal and helped the opener frustrate Bangladesh through a patient partnership. Atal reached his half-century from 166 balls, while Bangladesh’s spinners Nayeem Hasan and Taijul Islam kept the scoring in check without finding a breakthrough.
The partnership was worth 66 when Ebadot Hossain finally gave Bangladesh some relief shortly before lunch. Litton Das took an excellent catch to dismiss Ikram, ending the stand and giving Ebadot his third wicket of Afghanistan’s second innings.
Ebadot had also made a crucial late breakthrough on the fourth evening by removing Rahmat Shah, keeping Bangladesh in the contest as they pursued a final-day victory.
However, Atal remained unbeaten on 66 at the interval, continuing to anchor Afghanistan’s chase. Ismat was alongside him on nought, leaving Bangladesh with another important task after lunch: remove Atal before Afghanistan can make further inroads into the target.
Bangladesh had set Afghanistan 479 after declaring their second innings at 372-7. The hosts had been bowled out for 240 in their first innings, giving Bangladesh a substantial advantage, but Atal’s resistance has made the final morning a test of patience for the home side’s bowlers.
