Tea Afghanistan 240 and 265 for 6 (Atal 105*, Ahmadzai 0*, Ebadot 3-46) need another 214 runs to beat Bangladesh 346 and 372 for 7 (Litton 102, Shanto 82, Mushfiqur 81, Zia 2-86)

Sediqullah Atal's backs-to-the-wall century held Bangladesh at bay in Abu Dhabi. Seven minutes before the tea break, however, Hashmatullah Shahidi holed out to mid-on to give Bangladesh their sixth wicket and a lifeline with one session remaining in the match.

Atal reached his maiden Test hundred off 277 balls and remained unbeaten on 105 at tea, with Yamin Ahmadzai yet to open his account. Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up two wickets during the session, while Ebadot Hossain had three to his name.

Atal survived a chance shortly after lunch when Litton Das missed a difficult stumping with the batter on 70. Litton had already set a new record with nine dismissals, a century and a fifty in the match, but could not add to his tally on that occasion. Atal made Bangladesh pay, opening up against the fast bowlers with a couple of boundaries.

Ismat Alam had spent nearly an hour at the crease before finally getting off the mark off his 45th delivery, a moment marked by a slight smile. His resistance ended shortly afterwards when Mehidy had him caught in the slips.

Atal, meanwhile, entered the nineties with a swept boundary off Mehidy before pulling another four to bring up his maiden Test century. The milestone was greeted by a huge roar from the young left-hander, whose patient knock had kept Afghanistan's hopes alive.

Shahidi struck a couple of fours and a six on his return to the crease after his injury, but threw away his wicket just before tea. He charged Mehidy unnecessarily, only to be caught by Hasan Mahmud at mid-on.

Bangladesh had managed just one wicket in the morning session, although Shahidi had to leave the field early after being struck on the knee by a throw from Hasan Mahmud. Atal and Ikram Alikhil then batted together for an hour and 33 minutes, frustrating the hosts with a determined fourth-wicket stand.

Alikhil looked to be positive, driving Mehidy for an early boundary, while Atal reached his fifty off 166 balls before launching Taijul Islam for two sixes. Taijul also came close to dismissing him when Atal lost control of his bat, which flew behind him and landed just behind the stumps.

Bangladesh eventually broke the partnership when Ebadot strangled Alikhil down the leg side, with Litton taking an excellent catch to complete his record nine dismissals in the match.

Afghanistan had also shown resilience on the fourth day, negotiating 50 overs largely without hiccups despite losing Abdul Malik and Shahidullah early in their fourth innings. Rahmat Shah survived a dropped catch at slip and a mid-pitch mix-up with Atal before the pair added 82 runs for the third wicket.

Rahmat became only the sixth cricketer to score a century and a fifty on his captaincy debut, but fell shortly afterwards when Ebadot had him caught behind for 51 off 124 balls, including five fours and a six.