Abu Dhabi:Bangladesh requires seven more wickets on the final day to secure a win against Afghanistan in the one-off Test match, having set a target of 479 runs at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Afghanistan ended the fourth day at 132 for three, needing an additional 347 runs to clinch the match. Bangladesh's bowlers made early breakthroughs, reducing Afghanistan to 28 for two before Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal stabilized the innings with an 82-run partnership for the third wicket.
Ebadot Hossain broke the partnership late in the day by dismissing Rahmat Shah for 51, with a catch behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das. Atal remained not out on 35, as Afghanistan faces a daunting chase to win the match.
In Bangladesh's second innings, they declared at 372 for seven, featuring a century from Litton Das and a half-century from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Bangladesh had earlier gained a first-innings lead of 106 runs after dismissing Afghanistan for 240, having posted 346 in their first innings.
Litton Das scored 102 runs off 115 balls, marking his seventh Test century, while Miraz was unbeaten on 52. Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed significantly with scores of 81 and 82, respectively, in the first innings.
The partnership between Litton and Miraz for the seventh wicket added 159 runs, allowing Bangladesh to build a substantial lead before declaring. Litton reached his century with a boundary off Qais Ahmad but was dismissed shortly after by Selim Safi.
Afghanistan's second innings began on a poor note, with Ebadot Hossain dismissing Abdul Malik for two with his first ball. Hasan Mahmud then took the wicket of Shahidullah Kamal for 19. Ebadot finished the day with figures of two for 32, while Hasan took one for 31, as Bangladesh's pace attack proved effective.
Additionally, Litton Das set a new Bangladesh record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a Test match, achieving eight dismissals and surpassing Khaled Mashud's previous record of seven.
As the final day approaches, Bangladesh is in a strong position to claim victory, while Afghanistan faces a challenging task to achieve an improbable win.