The Blue Tigers would have had to set a world record to chase down a target of 479 in the fourth innings of a Test. Instead of taking that difficult route, Afghanistan focused on saving the match and succeeded in their battle for survival on the fifth and final day.

Bangladesh’s bowlers managed just five wickets on the final day, while a series of fielding errors cost the Tigers their chance of victory as the Abu Dhabi Test ended in a draw.

Afghanistan resumed the fifth day on 132 for three and batted throughout the day to finish on 346 for eight. Bangladesh’s bowlers tried hard but found little assistance from the pitch. The surface remained free of cracks, while the spinners gained no extra advantage. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the most successful bowler of the day, taking three wickets for 73 runs.

Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side had to wait until the 28th over for their first breakthrough on Tuesday. Birthday boy Litton Das produced a brilliant flying catch behind the stumps off Ebadot Hossain’s short delivery to dismiss Ikram Alikhil.

That was Bangladesh’s only success in the first session, as Afghanistan added 71 runs while losing one wicket. They scored another 62 runs in the second session, losing two wickets, before adding 81 in the final session for the loss of just one more. The batters’ resistance throughout the day gradually extinguished Bangladesh’s hopes of victory.

Opener Sediqullah Atal was one of the chief architects of Afghanistan’s resistance. He spent 514 minutes at the crease, scoring 111 off 332 balls to register his maiden Test century in his third Test appearance. It was also his first hundred in first-class cricket.

Atal was caught at short leg off Taijul Islam. A review could not save him, as replays showed the ball had touched his bat. Before returning to the dressing room, however, he had taken Afghanistan a long way towards securing the draw.

The Afghan opener made significant contributions to three partnerships, adding 82 runs off 214 balls for the third wicket, 66 off 147 for the fifth and 40 off 123 for the sixth. Afghanistan’s lower order continued to resist after his departure, adding 45 runs off 110 balls for the seventh wicket before an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 20 off 30 balls sealed the draw.

The match was also special for Litton, who scored 53 in the first innings and 102 in the second before setting a world record with nine dismissals behind the stumps. The achievement on his 32nd birthday could have been even greater, as he had the chance to become the first Bangladeshi to record 10 dismissals in a Test.

Litton missed a stumping opportunity when Atal came down the track against Taijul. Bangladesh then missed two straightforward run-out chances off successive balls in the final 40 minutes. Hasan Mahmud also failed to hold a catch off Miraz’s bowling to dismiss Qais Ahmad.

Despite Litton’s world record, the Tigers were left with more frustration than satisfaction, forced to settle for a draw after failing to take the wickets needed for victory.