Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, Oct 13: Afghanistan pulled off a remarkable draw against Bangladesh in their one-off Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, producing a determined fourth-innings performance led by a marathon century from Sediqullah Atal and a resolute lower-order stand involving Yamin Ahmadzai, Qais Ahmad and Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar.

Chasing an improbable target of 479, Afghanistan finished at 346/8 after batting for 142 overs to secure the draw. Bangladesh missed several opportunities in the field and failed to claim the final two wickets, with Qais remaining unbeaten on 49 off 80 balls while Zia-ur-Rehman blocked 12 deliveries without scoring.

Atal anchored Afghanistan’s resistance with a superb 111 off 332 balls, batting for eight hours and 34 minutes. His innings ranks as the seventh-longest in the fourth innings of a Test match and is also the first fourth-innings century by an Afghanistan batter in Test cricket.

Afghanistan resumed the final day at 132/3, with Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi at the crease. Shahidi retired hurt early in the first session after a throw from a deep fielder struck his knee.

Atal continued to occupy the crease alongside Ikram Alikhil, reaching his half-century off 166 balls. He also survived a missed stumping by Litton Das when he was on 70.

Alikhil’s resistance ended shortly before lunch when he gloved a pull shot and Das took a brilliant one-handed catch. Afghanistan went into the break at 203/4, with Shahidi still unable to return to the crease.

In the second session, Atal found support from Ismat Alam, who scored four runs off 60 balls as the pair added 40 runs to frustrate Bangladesh. Alam was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz shortly after Atal completed his century.

Shahidi subsequently returned to the crease but was dismissed for 36 before tea, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 265/6 at the end of the second session.

With one session remaining, Atal was left to guide the lower order through the final stretch. However, his dismissal in the first hour after tea left Afghanistan at 281/7, with around 22 overs still to survive and only three wickets remaining.

Bangladesh had further opportunities to close out the match but squandered a couple of run-out chances, while Hasan Mahmud dropped Qais at mid-wicket.

Bangladesh eventually gained another breakthrough when Ahmadzai was dismissed for 19, with Mominul Haque taking a fine catch at short fine leg to leave Afghanistan eight wickets down.

However, Qais and Zia-ur-Rehman held firm through the remaining overs. Qais also received treatment for a hamstring issue towards the end, but the pair successfully resisted Bangladesh to secure a memorable draw.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 346 (Tanzid 83, Shadman 67; Saleem 4/82) and 372/7 declared (Litton 102, Shanto 82; Saleem 2/69) drew with Afghanistan 240 (Rahmat 105, Malik 62; Mahmud 5/55) and 346/8 (Sediqullah Atal 111, Rahmat 51, Qais Ahmad 49 not out; Ebadot 3/50).