Afghanistan batted through the final day to secure a draw against Bangladesh in their one-off Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, with Sediqullah Atal scoring his maiden Test century and the lower order surviving a sustained push for victory.
Set 479 to win at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan finished their second innings on 346-8 after 142 overs, denying Bangladesh the two wickets they needed to complete a victory.
Atal led Afghanistan’s resistance with 111 from 332 balls, an innings that included nine fours and three sixes. He occupied the crease for much of Afghanistan’s attempt to save the match before being dismissed with the score at 281-7.
The pressure then shifted to Afghanistan’s lower order, but Qais Ahmad and Yamin Ahmadzai survived the closing stages. Qais finished unbeaten on 49, while Ahmadzai made 19 not out from 85 deliveries.
Afghanistan had begun their second innings facing a formidable task after Bangladesh declared their second innings at 372-7, setting a target of 479.
After Shahidullah Kamal was dismissed for 19, Atal and captain Rahmat Shah put on 82 runs to steady the innings. Rahmat made 51 from 124 balls, while Hashmatullah Shahidi added 36.
Ikram Alikhil then scored 33 and shared a 66-run partnership with Atal, further frustrating Bangladesh’s bowlers and reducing the number of overs the lower order would need to survive.
Atal eventually reached his first Test century before his dismissal gave Bangladesh another opening late in the match. Afghanistan, however, held on.
The draw capped a Test in which Afghanistan produced centuries in both innings.
Bangladesh, batting first after Afghanistan elected to field, made 346. Mohammad Saleem Safi was Afghanistan’s leading bowler with 4-82, while Yamin Ahmadzai took three wickets and Ismat Alam claimed two.
Afghanistan struggled in reply but were anchored by Rahmat, who marked his first Test as the team’s full-time captain with an unbeaten 105 from 216 deliveries. Abdul Malik contributed 62 and Ikram made 32, but Afghanistan were bowled out for 240, giving Bangladesh a 106-run first-innings lead.
Bangladesh then strengthened their position with 372-7 declared in their second innings. Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar, Ahmadzai and Saleem each took two wickets for Afghanistan, while Qais claimed one.
The declaration left Afghanistan needing 479 for an unlikely victory but, more realistically, requiring their batters to survive long enough to force a draw.
Atal’s century provided the foundation for that effort before Qais and Ahmadzai completed the job in the closing overs.
Rahmat finished the match with 156 runs across the two innings, while Atal’s 332-ball stay proved decisive in preventing Bangladesh from converting their commanding position into a win.
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