The final day of the Abu Dhabi Test began with mounting frustration for the Bangladesh camp, as their bowlers struggled to make an impression on a stubborn Afghan batting lineup. Neither pace nor spin could dislodge the resolute opposition batters during the opening exchanges. Aside from a brief interlude when Hashmatullah Shahidi was forced to retire hurt after being struck by a fielder’s throw while taking a run off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh had precious little to celebrate in the early hours of play.
Persistence eventually paid dividends through the familiar combination of Ebadot Hossain and Litton Das. Delivering his third breakthrough of the second innings, Ebadot produced a short ball that tempted Ikram Alikhil, who was well-set on 33, into an ambitious pull shot. Swooping in like a hawk behind the stumps, Litton pulled off a breathtaking diving catch to send Alikhil back to the pavilion. The magnificent piece of athleticism finally broke a dangerous 66-run partnership between Alikhil and Abdul Malik Sediq Atal, breathing fresh life into the Bangladesh attack.
Prior to this critical breakthrough, Afghanistan had been quietly building a firm foundation, frustrating the Bangladeshi bowling unit with disciplined shot selection and patient leave-taking on a pitch that was gradually losing its pace. The injury to Shahidi had initially appeared to throw the batting order into slight disarray, but the middle order consolidated effectively to keep Bangladesh at bay. However, Litton’s lightning-fast reflexes injected much-needed momentum into the side, reminding the opposition of the constant danger posed by Ebadot’s sharp discipline and aggressive length bowling.
By the time the players paused, Afghanistan had navigated their way to 203 for the loss of four wickets. Ebadot stood out as the chief tormentor for Bangladesh, claiming three vital scalps in a spirited bowling display. The match remains balanced on a razor’s edge, with Afghanistan still requiring an improbable 277 runs to seal victory, while Bangladesh need just six wickets to wrap up the Test match and secure a memorable victory on foreign soil.