Bangladesh impose a mammoth 479-run target as Litton notches a century and Afghanistan lose early wickets

Bangladesh set Afghanistan a daunting 479‑run target after declaring at 372 for seven on day four of the Abu Dhabi Test. Litton Khan, the wicket‑keeper‑batsman, top‑scored with an elegant 102 – his seventh Test century and sixth as a keeper – helping the hosts reach a total that will require the visitors to chase down more than four hundred runs.

At tea on the final day, Afghanistan were 240 for two, needing another 428 runs to win. Captain Rahmat Shah (14) and Sediqullah Atal (14) were at the crease, with Rahmat having already posted a century in the first innings. The pair face a steep uphill task to overturn Bangladesh’s total.

After Bangladesh’s declaration, the chase began with a flurry of fielding lapses from Afghanistan. Litton, who had earlier scored a fifty, struck his hundred with a crisp pull and a guided drive through point, completing a valuable innings that came after three consecutive ducks in the Australian series.

Afghanistan’s fielders missed several crucial opportunities. Qais Ahmedi let a run‑out slip at the non‑striker’s end when Mehidy Hasan Miraz was well short, and Abdul Malik dropped a simple catch at gully off a 40‑run hit. These misfields handed Bangladesh a substantial lead.

Malik’s day soured further when he stepped up to bat. He was bowled out by Ebadot Hossain’s first delivery of the chase, caught behind after attempting a drive on a ball that had a little extra bounce close to off‑stump. His previous attempt in the match had been a powerful flay, but this time the ball evaded him.

Shahidullah Afghan followed shortly after, edging a hook off Hasan Mahmud to be caught behind. He had quickly assembled 19 runs with four boundaries, but the same shot that succeeded in the first innings proved his undoing again.

In the morning session, Litton continued to dominate the Afghan bowling. He struck several delightful cuts, drives and pulls, while Afghanistan again spilled catches and missed run‑out chances. Litton survived a stumping on 14, a crisp catch on 26, and an inside‑edge on 67 – the latter reprieved when Afghanistan had exhausted their reviews. The misplaced catches also allowed Bangladesh to extend their lead beyond 400 runs.

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