Bangladesh held the upper hand in the Abu Dhabi Test from the opening day, maintaining a dominant position throughout most of the contest. By the conclusion of the fourth day, victory appeared to be within reach for the visitors, with the match trending toward an almost one-sided outcome. However, a combination of exceptional resistance from Sediqullah Atal and the Afghan lower order, compounded by several missed opportunities in the field by Bangladesh, ultimately resulted in a hard-fought draw at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
First Innings and Setup
The match began with Bangladesh posting 346 runs in their first innings. Afghanistan’s response was limited to 240, granting Bangladesh a critical 106-run lead. Capitalizing on this advantage, Bangladesh declared their second innings at 372 for 7, setting a daunting target of 479 runs for victory.
The Final Day Battle
Resuming the final day from an overnight score of 3 for 132, Afghanistan progressed to 1 for 71 by the end of the first session, followed by 2 for 62 in the second. The fifth day started with resilience from the Afghan batting unit despite an injury scare. Hashmatullah Shahidi was forced to retire hurt after a collision with a fielder, though he later returned to the crease. Ekram Alikhil provided vital support to Sediqullah Atal before falling for 33 just before lunch, caught behind off an Ebadot Hossain bouncer.
Resistance and Breakthroughs
- Ismat Alam offered a stubborn defense, facing 60 balls for his 4 runs before being removed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed his second wicket of the second session when Hashmatullah Shahidi, who had returned to the pitch, was caught by Hasan Mahmud at mid-on for 36 while attempting an aggressive shot.
- Sediqullah Atal remained the anchor throughout the day, securing his maiden Test century before the tea break, which proved instrumental in keeping the game alive for Afghanistan.
Closing Stages and Missed Chances
Following the tea break, the pivotal partnership ended when Taijul Islam dismissed Sediqullah Atal for 111. His marathon resistance lasted 332 balls and included nine fours and three sixes. Following Atal’s departure, Bangladesh had immediate opportunities to capitalize, yet they failed to execute two consecutive run-out chances. Further frustration followed with 11 overs and 2 balls remaining, when Hasan Mahmud dropped a catch at deep mid-wicket off Miraz’s bowling from Qais Ahmed.
A Dramatic Conclusion
Despite the dropped catch, Afghanistan moved steadily toward a draw. Bangladesh managed to secure a late eighth wicket with only five overs remaining, but it had little impact on the final result. Qais Ahmed played with significant aggression in the final moments, finishing the match unbeaten on 49 off 80 deliveries by striking a six on the very last ball of the game, cementing a hard-earned draw for his side.
