Bangladesh were moving toward a major victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday, after a fine hundred from Litton Das helped them set a target of 479 runs.
Litton made 102, his seventh Test century, before Bangladesh declared on 372-7 on day four at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. That gave them a 106-run lead from the first innings. Afghanistan ended the day on 132-3, with Sediqullah Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi on 35 and 19.
Litton Das’s hundred and Bangladesh’s declaration
Bangladesh resumed the day on 223-6 and relied on a seventh-wicket partnership of 149 between Litton and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Miraz finished unbeaten on 52, and his stand with Litton did much of the heavy lifting.
Afghanistan’s fielding let them down badly. They dropped Litton on 14, 26 and 67, and also missed a run-out chance against Miraz, which made for a poor day in the field.
Early breakthroughs and Litton’s keeping record
Ebadot Hossain struck early, removing Abdul Malik for two in the second over of the innings. Hasan Mahmud, who took a hat-trick during his five-wicket haul in the first innings, then had Shahidullah Kamal caught behind for 19.
Rahmat Shah and Atal put on 82 for the third wicket. Shah, who hit a century in Afghanistan’s first-innings total of 240, made a battling 51 before Hossain had him caught behind, with Litton taking the catch.
That dismissal was Litton’s eighth behind the stumps in the match, a new record for Bangladesh. The previous best of seven was set by Khaled Mashud against Zimbabwe in February 2004. Mohammad Saleem, Zia-ur-Rehman and Yamin Ahmadzai each took two wickets for Afghanistan.
