Atal ton, tail-end heroics earn Afghanistan thrilling draw against Bangladesh

Opener Sediqullah Atal and lower-order batsman Qais Ahmed engineered a remarkable escape for Afghanistan, forcing a draw on the fifth and final day of their one-off Test against Bangladesh at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Resuming the morning at 132 for 3 in pursuit of a monumental 479-run target, Afghanistan had 90 overs to bat out to save the game. Atal embraced the challenge with a Herculean effort. Blunting the Bangladeshi bowling attack, the opener chewed up 332 deliveries to score 111 -- his maiden Test century. His gritty resilience carried the Afghans deep into the final session, almost single-handedly keeping the game alive.

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Around him, wickets fell at a slow but steady pace. Ikram Alikhil (33) departed in the morning session, while Hashmatullah Shahidi retired hurt early on. Shahidi returned to the crease later in the day, but both he (36) and Ismat Alam (4) were dismissed before Tea, leaving the bulk of the pressure squarely on Atal's shoulders.

Bangladesh finally found a second wind in the evening session. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who had toiled through an exhausting 58.4 overs in the second innings without reward, finally broke through to claim Atal’s crucial wicket. The breakthrough shifted the momentum, leaving Bangladesh just three wickets away from a hard-fought victory.

However, the Afghan tailenders dug in and refused to fold. Yamin Ahmadzai showcased massive restraint, facing 85 balls for his 19 runs before being dismissed in the dying moments of the match. Alongside him, Qais Ahmed played a phenomenal, unbeaten 80-ball knock of 49. Frustrating the Bangladeshi bowlers, the duo stitched together a vital 45-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Qais then helped Afghanistan see out the remaining overs as they finished on 346 for eight to pull off an extraordinary draw.

Tigers close in on victory after Taijul removes Atal

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam finally broke through, dismissing Afghanistan’s biggest obstacle, centurion Sediqullah Atal, as the Tigers closed in on victory in the final session of the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Taijul had bowled 58.4 overs in Afghanistan’s second innings before claiming Atal’s wicket -- his first of the match. The breakthrough left Bangladesh just three wickets away from victory, with the hosts facing an uphill task to chase down the 479-run target set on Monday.

After 123 overs, Afghanistan were 300 for seven, still 179 runs short of their target but more importantly they had 17 overs remaining in the day. Afghanistan exposed tail had pacers Yamin Ahmadzai and leg-spinner Qais Ahmed in the middle.

Ton-up Sediqullah stands between Bangladesh and Test win 

Sediqullah Atal struck his maiden Test century against Bangladesh on Tuesday as Afghanistan took the one-off Test into the final session.

The left-handed opener was unbeaten on 105 off 299 deliveries as the hosts reached 265 for six at tea on the final day.

Bangladesh had earlier set Afghanistan a target of 479 runs for victory on Monday.

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Litton's landmark dismissal dents Afghan resistance

The Afghans lost three wickets in the day so far -- one in the morning session and two before tea, with Sediqullah showing treme4ndous amount of grit and resilience. 

Ikram Alikhil (33), Ismat Alam (4) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (36) -- the latter returning after retiring hurt in the first session -- were the wickets to fall so far on the final day.

Ebadot Hossain took two of those wickets while Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the other one.