Sediqullah Atal's unbeaten vigil carries Afghanistan deep into the final day in Abu Dhabi

Sediqullah Atal's unbeaten innings has carried Afghanistan to 233 for 4 on the final afternoon in Abu Dhabi, with a target no Test side has ever reached still a long way off

Afghanistan reached 233 for 4 in the second session of the fifth day of the only Test against Bangladesh at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, leaving them 246 runs short of a target of 479.

Atal was 89 not out by the 93rd over, having resumed on 35 from 126 balls, and his innings has taken Afghanistan from the end of the fourth day to deep into the fifth.

Bangladesh need six wickets in the time that remains to win a match they have led since the opening day.

A target without precedent

Bangladesh declared their second innings at 372 for 7 shortly after lunch on day four, setting Afghanistan 479 to win.

No side has made more than 418 to win a Test, the total West Indies chased against Australia in Antigua in 2003, so the number set in Abu Dhabi was never a realistic chase.

Afghanistan were bowled out for 240 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh's 346, a deficit of 106 that shaped everything that followed.

What is left for them on the final day is the draw, and the overs they can bat out to reach it.

Afghanistan have batted accordingly, scoring at under two and a half runs an over across the fourth evening and the fifth morning.

Atal digs in

Afghanistan closed the fourth day on 132 for 3 from 50 overs, with Atal 35 not out from 126 balls after batting through the evening session.

He reached 66 from 222 balls during the morning session, a strike rate under 30 that matched what the situation asked of him.

By the 93rd over he had moved to 89, within sight of a maiden Test hundred in only his third match in the format.

He came into the match with 62 runs from two Tests and a highest score of 42.

Alikhil falls before lunch

Ikram Alikhil made 33 before edging a short ball from Ebadot Hossain through to Litton Das, Bangladesh's one breakthrough of the morning.

The wicket came shortly before the interval and left Afghanistan 203 for 4 at lunch, with Ismat Alam walking in to join Atal.

Ismat has given Atal the support the innings needed, and the pair were still together as Afghanistan moved past 230.

Ebadot had also removed Rahmat Shah for 51 late on the fourth evening, the wicket that gave Bangladesh their opening into the middle order.

Litton's century and a Bangladesh record

Litton Das set up the declaration with 102 from 117 balls, an innings of 14 fours that took the game beyond Afghanistan on the fourth morning.

Bangladesh declared immediately after he was dismissed, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz unbeaten at the other end.

Litton also finished the match with eight dismissals behind the stumps, seven catches and a stumping, passing Khaled Mashud's seven for the most by a Bangladesh wicketkeeper in a Test.

Bangladesh search for six wickets

Bangladesh's control on the fourth evening came from Taijul Islam, whose 15 overs cost 24 runs, and from Ebadot, who took 2 for 32 from 10.

Hasan Mahmud, who took a hat-trick and five wickets in Afghanistan's first innings, has one wicket in the second.

The attack has found little in a surface that has flattened out, and Bangladesh's route to the six wickets they need runs through patience as much as pace.

Separating Atal from the lower order is the clearest route they have to the result, and the overs to do it in are running down.

Scorecard: Bangladesh 346 and 372 for 7 declared; Afghanistan 240 and 233 for 4, needing 246 more to win.

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