Sediqullah Atal’s resolute 111 and Qais Ahmad’s valuable 49 not out saved Afghanistan from a certain defeat against Bangladesh as the one-off Test between the two nations ended in a draw at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abdu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Chasing a stiff target of 479 Bangladesh’s batsmen demonstrated great patience and reached 346-8 till stumps on the fifth and final day.

Atal, playing his third Test, showed top resistance against Bangladeshi bowlers and completed his well-deserved century. He also became the first Afghanistan’s batsman to score a century in the fourth innings.

Atal struck nine fours and three sixes in his solid knock during which he stayed for 514 minutes at the crease before spinner Taijul Islam removing him in the third session to leave Afghans struggling.at 281-7.

However at this stage Qais shouldered the responsibility and went deep until the end to avert a looming defeat. He hit six fours and three sixes in his 80-ball 49 not out.

He was ably backed by Yamin Ahmadzai (19) as the duo added precious 45 runs for the eighth wicket stand.

Ebadot Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz got three wickets each.

Afghanistan started the fifth and final day’s play with 132-3 with Sediqullah Atal batting on 35 and Shahidullah Shahidi on 19.

However just in the third over Shahidi got retired hurt as he walked off the pitch after the ball thudded into his pads after a throw from the fielder. He was seen in deep pain despite administering first aid by the physiotherapist.

Ikram Alikhil then joined Atal and the duo tried their best to consolidate their position. However Bangladesh’s bowlers were bowling extremely well. Ebadot Hossain provided breakthrough to Bangladesh when he had Ikram, held excellently by Litton Das behind the stumps.

The dismissal also helped Das create world Test record. He became the first player in Test cricket to record nine dismissals behind the stumps while scoring a half-century and a century in the same match. He surpassed the previous record held by South Africa’s Denis Lindsay.

In the Johannesburg Test against Australia in 1966, Lindsay scored 50-plus runs in both innings and recorded eight dismissals. By catching Ikram Alikhil, Litton surpassed Lindsay to set a new record.

Ikram struck five fours in his 36 which came off 69 balls. He added 66 runs with Atal in a well-needed stand.

At lunch Afghanistan were 203-4.

After the break Bangladesh’s spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled well, taking two quick wickets of Ismat Aslam (4) and Shahidullah Shahidi (36) to leave Afghanistan reeling at 264-6.

Shahidi, who returned to bat after injury, hammered four fours and two sixes in his 36 for which he faced 69 balls.

Qais and Yamin then did well to end Bangladesh’s winning chances.

Bangladesh had scored 346 and 372-7 declared while Afghans were bowled out for 240 in their first innings