Litton Das Ton Puts Bangladesh on Verge of Test Win

Bangladesh tightened their grip on the one-off Test against Afghanistan with a commanding batting effort led by Litton Das, whose fluent century pushed the visitors into a dominant position in Abu Dhabi. By the close of play on day four, Afghanistan were 132-3 and still facing an imposing target of 479, with Bangladesh now close to sealing a comprehensive victory.

Litton Das leads the charge

Litton’s 102 was the innings that shifted the match decisively. It was his seventh Test hundred, but this one carried extra weight because it came when Bangladesh needed someone to turn a solid position into a match-winning one.

Bangladesh declared on 372-7 after extending their first-innings lead of 106, and Litton’s contribution gave the total real authority. His knock mixed control with intent, and even when Afghanistan had chances to break his rhythm, he stayed composed.

Afghanistan missed him on 14, 26 and 67, and those errors proved costly as the Bangladesh keeper-batter kept building. As one Bangladesh team source put it after the day’s play, In Tests, missed chances often become the difference between keeping the game alive and watching it slip away.

Middle-order stand changes the game

Bangladesh had resumed on 223-6, with the innings still needing repair after early pressure. What followed was the decisive partnership of the day: a 149-run seventh-wicket stand between Litton and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Miraz finished unbeaten on 52, giving Bangladesh exactly the kind of lower-order support that can tilt a Test in the final phase. The stand not only steadied the innings, it also pushed the lead beyond Afghanistan’s reach and forced the opposition into a desperate chase.

Key batting moments

Afghanistan left with a mountain to climb

Afghanistan’s chase never looked simple, and Bangladesh wasted little time applying pressure with the ball. Ebadot Hossain struck early, removing Abdul Malik for two in just the second over to hand the visitors immediate momentum.

Hasan Mahmud, who had already taken a hat-trick in his first-innings five-wicket haul, again played a key role by dismissing Shahidullah Kamal for 19. That left Afghanistan needing another rescue act, and Rahmat Shah briefly provided one alongside Sediqullah Atal.

The pair added 82 for the third wicket, but once Rahmat fell for 51, the chase began to lose shape. His innings, which included five fours and a six, was gritty enough to give Afghanistan a foothold, but not enough to threaten Bangladesh’s control.

Record night behind the stumps for Litton

Litton’s influence was not limited to his batting. With the gloves, he completed his eighth dismissal behind the stumps in the match, setting a new Bangladesh record for a Test. He moved past the previous best of seven, set by Khaled Mashud against Zimbabwe in 2004.

That detail underlined the all-round nature of Bangladesh’s superiority in Abu Dhabi. They were sharp behind the stumps, disciplined with the ball, and far more clinical than Afghanistan on a day when fielding errors kept opening the door wider.

Bangladesh also benefited from Afghanistan’s sloppy work in the field. The dropped chances and missed run-out opportunity against Miraz added to a frustrating day for the visitors, who now need something special on the final day to avoid defeat.

Final day pressure firmly on Afghanistan

At stumps, Afghanistan were 132-3 with Sediqullah Atal unbeaten on 35 and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi on 19. They still require 347 more runs for victory, a task that looks increasingly unlikely on a wearing Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

Bangladesh will now back their pacers and spinners to finish the job on Tuesday. With the surface expected to offer more assistance as the match wears on, the home team will feel they have the contest exactly where they want it.

For Afghanistan, the equation is simple: survive, rebuild, and try to make Bangladesh work for every wicket. But after Litton Das’ hundred, Miraz’s support act, and a disciplined bowling effort, Bangladesh have moved to the brink of a statement Test win.

Score snapshot