Atal's Century, Qais Ahmad's Resistance Help Afghanistan Secure Draw
Sediqullah Atal's heroic century and Qais Ahmad's final-ball six secured a dramatic draw for Afghanistan against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.
In a heart-stopping conclusion to the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan managed to escape with a draw against a dominant Bangladesh side. The hero of the hour was Sediqullah Atal, whose monumental century provided the backbone for the Afghan resistance, while Qais Ahmad provided the ultimate cinematic finish by striking a six off the very last ball of the match to deny the visitors a victory.
Afghanistan finished their second innings at 346/8, successfully weathering a storm of pressure from the Bangladesh bowling attack. Despite being set a daunting target, the Afghan lineup showed immense grit to ensure the match ended without a winner.
Atal's Historic Fourth-Innings Century
Sediqullah Atal played an innings of pure endurance and skill, scoring 111 runs off 332 deliveries. His marathon effort lasted more than eight hours, frustrating the Bangladesh bowlers throughout the final day. Notably, Atal's knock marked the first time an Afghanistan batter has scored a century in the fourth innings of a Test match.
The day began with drama as Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the knee by a throw from Hasan Mahmud. Despite the setback to his leadership, Atal anchored the innings with a blend of defensive discipline and calculated aggression. He reached his half-century against Ebadot Hossain and later took on the spin of Taijul Islam with two massive sixes.
Atal eventually reached his maiden Test century with a pull shot off 277 balls. However, his long vigil ended when Taijul Islam finally found a way through, momentarily giving Bangladesh a glimmer of hope that they could snatch a win.
Lower-Order Heroics and a Final-Ball Six
As the light began to fade, the match swung into a tense survival mode. While the Bangladesh bowlers had several chances to clean up the tail, the Afghan lower order refused to buckle. There were moments of extreme tension, including a near-miss where Yamin Ahmadzai's inside edge rolled onto the stumps without dislodging the bails, and a frantic run-out appeal involving Qais Ahmad that went unfulfilled.
Qais Ahmad proved to be the ultimate survivor. Despite appearing to be in physical discomfort, he played a vital unbeaten knock of 49. He was supported by Rahmat Shah, who contributed 51, and Zia-ur-Rehman, who helped him navigate the final, high-pressure overs.
In the final moments of the match, with Bangladesh desperately hunting for the final wicket, Qais Ahmad struck the final ball of the contest for a six, sealing the draw and sparking celebrations for the Afghan side.
Match Overview: A Tale of Two Innings
The match had been a see-saw affair from the start. Bangladesh had established strong positions throughout the contest:
- Bangladesh First Innings: 346 (Tanzid Hasan 83, Shadman Islam 67, Litton Das 53; Hasan Mahmud 5/55)
- Afghanistan First Innings: 240 (Rahmat Shah 105, Karim Janat 62)
- Bangladesh Second Innings: 372/7 declared (Litton Das 102, Najmul Hossain Shanto 82, Mushfiqur Rahim 81)
- Afghanistan Second Innings: 346/8 (Sediqullah Atal 111, Rahmat Shah 51, Qais Ahmad 49*)
Litton Das was a standout performer for Bangladesh across the match, contributing a century and a half-century with the bat, alongside exceptional work behind the stumps.