There was a dropped catch, a missed stumping and a botched run-out attempt. At one point, the ball also rolled off Yamin Ahmadzai’s bat and onto the stumps without dislodging the bails.
“I think we gave our best but we didn’t take the opportunities,” Shanto said. “In this kind of condition, these things probably made the difference. We should have taken ten wickets today. I think we ended up drawing the game due to the small mistakes. It is certainly a disappointing result but we played good cricket on all five days. Our bowlers worked very hard especially in these conditions today. I think we have to give our bowlers the credit. We couldn’t use the opportunities.”
Shanto said Bangladesh’s bowlers needed to find ways of taking wickets on unresponsive pitches, particularly late in Test matches: “I believe that after the Australia series, we needed to play in these conditions before the West Indies series. This experience will help us going forward.
“We have an experienced bowling attack who all know what’s expected of them. We were all disciplined. They bowled in the right areas for a long period. I think maybe the bowlers can figure out exactly how else to bowl in these conditions.”
Shanto also praised Litton Das’ player-of-the-match performance. Litton became the first wicketkeeper to score a century and a half-century, and effect nine dismissals in a Test match: “It was outstanding the way he kept wickets and played those two innings, especially in this weather. It is a great sign for our team that someone bounced back after two or three low scores.”
Pybus hails Atal’s turnaround after marathon century
Atal made 111 off 332 balls, curbing his usual attacking instincts to bat until the 119th over of Afghanistan’s fourth innings. Pybus said Atal had worked hard to rediscover his form before producing the match-saving innings.
“All credit to Sediq for really turning it around,” Pybus said. “It was an outstanding innings for him. He had been a little bit out of touch, actually, so he worked really hard on this innings.
“Credit to him, he’s at the beginning of his Test career. He’s done all the work. He will carry that confidence forward.”
Shanto was equally complimentary of Afghanistan’s effort, particularly Atal’s century.
“They played some brilliant cricket,” Shanto said. “We have to give them credit as well. Especially the way Sediqullah batted, it was really impressive.
“We never thought that the match would be over on the fourth day. The wicket was good on the fourth and fifth day. There was some help for the spinners, but it was a good wicket for five days. They must be credited for the way they batted against our quality of bowling attack.”
‘Qais paid absolutely no attention to my advice’
“Qais paid absolutely no attention to my advice whatsoever,” Pybus said. “I suggested to him to defend really strongly and with a lot of willpower. I thought he was trying to channel Ben Stokes and chase down that total without absolutely any possibility of getting it. Qais gave us a cameo at the back end there. Qais played his own game. But credit to him, he just fought incredibly hard like the whole side did.”
Pybus also praised Afghanistan’s ability to handle the pressure of batting for a day and a half: “I think the squad actually managed emotions today pretty well. It’s a long chase and also getting to the point where you’re actually batting to hold out and to get a good draw out of it.”
Mohammad Isam is Cricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84