Bangladesh is closing in on a comprehensive victory against Afghanistan in their one-off Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Riding on the back of Litton Das’s brilliant 102—his seventh Test century—the visitors declared their second innings at 372-7 on Monday. This left Afghanistan facing a massive target of 479 runs to win.
The declaration came after a dominant display that reinforced the 106-run lead Bangladesh had secured in the first innings. Resuming the day at 223-6, Bangladesh found stability through a 149-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Litton and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who remained unbeaten on 52. Afghanistan’s fielding proved costly throughout the session, as they provided Litton with three lives on 14, 26, and 67, while also squandering a run-out opportunity against Miraz. His outstanding knock helped Bangladesh build a commanding position in the match after securing a 106-run first-innings lead.
With the ball, Afghanistan’s bowlers Mohammad Saleem, Zia-ur-Rehman, and Yamin Ahmadzai each claimed two wickets, but they struggled to contain the mounting pressure. As Afghanistan began their daunting chase, Ebadot Hossain struck early to remove Abdul Malik for just two runs. Hasan Mahmud, fresh off a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick in the first innings, continued to trouble the batting lineup by trapping Shahidullah Kamal for 19.
Despite these early setbacks, Rahmat Shah—who had impressed with a first-innings century in his total of 240—showed grit with a fighting 51. He combined with Sediqullah Atal for a critical 82-run partnership, hitting five boundaries and a six before Ebadot Hossain eventually broke through his defenses. Litton Das, operating behind the stumps, claimed a sharp catch to dismiss Rahmat, marking his eighth dismissal in the match. Rahmat, who had played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s first innings with an impressive century in their total of 240, once again demonstrated his determination with a fighting half-century in the second innings. Striking five boundaries and one six, as he attempted to steady Afghanistan’s innings and keep his team competitive against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack, the experienced batter scored 51 runs.
This feat established a new Bangladesh record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a single Test match, surpassing the previous benchmark of seven set by Khaled Mashud against Zimbabwe in February 2004. Litton’s performance underscored a match-defining contribution with both the bat and the gloves. Adding another milestone to an already memorable performance, litton’s achievement surpassed that mark.
By the close of the fourth day, Afghanistan reached 132-3. Sediqullah Atal remained not out on 35 alongside captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who was unbeaten on 19. The team faces an uphill struggle as they head into the final day, with the pitch expected to deteriorate further. Afghanistan still face a challenging task as they look to close the gap.
Bangladesh remains confident heading into Tuesday’s final session. Their bowling unit is well-prepared to exploit the wearing surface, aiming to dismantle the remaining Afghan batting order quickly. The visitors will be focused on maintaining their discipline to wrap up the match and secure the win.
