Afghanistan reached 211 for four at stumps on the second day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, trailing by 135 runs after a strong batting effort led by Rahmat Shah.
Rahmat was unbeaten on 84 and Ikram Alikhil on 24, with the pair adding 72 runs for the fifth wicket to frustrate Bangladesh’s bowlers late in the day.
Afghanistan had reached 131 for two at tea but lost two wickets in the final session. Abdul Malik, who scored 62, was caught behind off Ebadot Hossain to end a 70-run partnership with Rahmat. Mehedi Hasan Miraz then dismissed captain Hashmatullah Shahidi for a two-ball duck, leaving Afghanistan at 156 for four.
But Bangladesh could not make further inroads as Rahmat and Ikram batted through the final session, putting together an unbroken stand of 72 from 194 balls.
Earlier, Bangladesh added 29 runs to their overnight total of 317 for eight before being bowled out for 346 in 92.3 overs. Nayeem Hasan top-scored among the lower order with an unbeaten 35, while Taijul Islam made nine.
Bangladesh had made a strong start on Friday, with Tanzid Hasan scoring 83 and Shadman Islam 67 in an opening stand of 124. But the innings faltered after the pair departed, with Bangladesh losing three wickets for four runs to slip from 221 for two to 225 for five.
Litton Das scored 53 and Mehedi Hasan Miraz made 24, but Afghanistan’s bowlers prevented Bangladesh from building a bigger total. Mohammad Salim Safi took four wickets for 82 runs, while Yamin Ahmadzai claimed three for 79.
Afghanistan’s reply began cautiously, and Hasan Mahmud gave Bangladesh an early breakthrough by dismissing Sediqullah Atal for 17. Ebadot then removed Shahidullah Kamal for 20, with Hasan taking a fine catch in the deep.
Malik and Rahmat steadied the innings with a third-wicket stand before Ebadot broke through again. Malik’s 62 was his maiden Test half-century.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain had elected to bat after winning the toss, saying the dry pitch and hot conditions could make batting more difficult in the fourth innings.
Afghanistan will resume on Sunday with six wickets in hand, looking to close the 135-run gap and put pressure on Bangladesh in the remaining days of the match.