Afghanistan 240 and 132 for 3 (Sediqullah 35*, Hashmatullah 19*, Ebadot 2-32) need another 347 runs to beat Bangladesh 346 and 372 for 7 (Litton 102, Shanto 82, Mushfiqur 81, Zia 2-86)
Rahmat Shah's wicket gave Bangladesh the opening they needed to get ahead in the Abu Dhabi Test. Rahmat, who followed his first-innings century with a fifty, fell shortly before stumps leaving Afghanistan starting at a big defeat in the 479-run chase.
Sediqullah Atal remained unbeaten on 35 after facing 126 balls, while Hashmatullah Shahidi was not out on 19 as Afghanistan were 347 runs away with seven wickets in hand.
Bangladesh dominated through Litton Das' century, as they declared on 372 for seven just after lunch. Litton became only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score a century, fifty and complete eight dismissals in a match.
Afghanistan came into the day's final session having already lost two wickets. Abdul Malik was caught behind off Ebadot Hossain's first ball of the innings. Shahidullah ran off to 19 runs with four boundaries, before being caught behind off a Hasan Mahmud short ball.
After the tea break, Afghanistan needed consolidation, but it was luck that came their way first. Tanzid Hasan dropped Rahmat at first slip, when the Afghanistan captain was batting on 16. A little while later, Rahmat survived a run-out chance too, when he had a mix-up with Atal.
The pair focused harder after the near miss, as they exchanged a four and a six in the next couple of overs. Rahmat cracked Taijul Islam through the covers, while Atal lofted the same bowler over long-off. The pair stopped finding boundaries for the next ten overs, as they concentrated on defending.
Rahmat swept Taijul for four, to bring up Afghanistan's hundred, before he slammed Mehidy Hasah Miraz for his first six shortly afterwards. It brought up his fifty, making him the sixth captain to score both a century and half-century on captaincy debut.
Within minutes however, Ebadot dismissed Rahmat with a peach of a delivery that moved only slightly, kissing the outside edge. Rahmat stood there silently, as the Bangladesh team's celebrations ran wild.
It was also Litton's eighth dismissal of the match, giving him the new Bangladesh record for most dismissals in a Test. Previously, Khaled Mashud held the record for them with seven dismissals against Zimbabwe in 2004.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh rode on Litton's seventh century. He added 149 runs for the seventh wicket with Mehidy, who also got to his 11th half-century. The pair now has four century stands, as they often collaborate when the chips are down.
Litton had an interesting day that had some graceful shots around the wicket but littered with plenty of chances. Shahidullah dropped him on 14 at slip, followed by Qais Ahmed dropping him on 26 off his own bowling. When he was on 67, the umpire gave him a reprieve when he got an inside edge to the wicketkeeper. Afghanistan had run out of reviews by then.
Mehidy survived a dropped catch at slip and gully on either side of the lunch break. He also could have been run out twice as he was outside the crease but the fielder from mid-on couldn't connect with the stumps.
Litton however offered some of his best shots. He cut the ball with finesse, drove down the ground often, and even brought out the pull shot to reach his fifty. Litton moved from 94 to 102 with a pull and a glide through point, as he equaled Mushfiqur Rahim's record for most centuries as a wicketkeeper for Bangladesh.
Finally when Litton fell in the eighth over after lunch, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto declared their innings with a lead of 478 runs. Mehidy remained unbeaten on 51.
