Sediqullah Atal makes history with maiden fourth-innings century in draw against Bangladesh

Sediqullah Atal etched his name into the record books on Tuesday, becoming the first Afghanistan cricketer to register a Test century in the fourth innings. His composed 111 off 332 deliveries proved instrumental in denying Bangladesh victory during the one-off Test match held in Abu Dhabi, as Afghanistan successfully navigated a challenging final day to force a draw.

Facing a daunting target of 479 runs, Afghanistan began the final day of play at 132/3. Atal, who anchored the innings with remarkable discipline, found vital support throughout the day to keep his side in the contest. His marathon effort, which included nine boundaries and three sixes, concluded when he was dismissed by Taijul Islam, caught by Tanzid Hasan at short leg. Despite a review, UltraEdge confirmed the contact, ending a performance that spanned over 300 deliveries.

Even after Atal’s departure, the resistance continued. The lower order refused to concede, with Qais Ahmad delivering a defiant, unbeaten 49 off 80 balls. Alongside Yamin Ahmadzai, who remained not out on 19, Ahmad helped steer the team to a final score of 346/8 after 142 overs. This collective effort effectively nullified the advantage Bangladesh had built earlier in the match.

The draw serves as a significant result for Afghanistan, who successfully defended against a formidable target to salvage the match. The final scorecard reflected the hard-fought nature of the contest, with Bangladesh finishing at 346 and 372/7 declared, while Afghanistan concluded at 240 and 346/8.