RAWALPINDI: Bangladesh were dismissed for 262 runs on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, despite a determined fightback led by Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The visitors struggled early in the day but managed to reduce their deficit through a resilient partnership, although they fell short of Pakistan’s first-innings total of 274.
Bangladesh’s innings began poorly with the team reeling at 26 for six within the first hour of play on day three of the second Test. The morning session saw a dramatic collapse as Bangladesh lost six wickets for just 36 runs. Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza, Pakistan’s opening bowlers, exploited the conditions effectively, swinging the ball both ways and putting the Bangladeshi batters under immense pressure.
Zakir Hasan was the first to fall, dismissed for a solitary run, caught at short mid-wicket off Khurram. The carnage continued as Khurram bowled out Shadman Islam for 10 and Najmul Hossain Shanto for just 4.
Hamza also contributed to the early collapse, removing Mominul Haque for 1 and Mushfiqur Rahim for 3. Shakib Al Hasan fell LBW to Khurram for 10, leaving Bangladesh in disarray.
However, the tide began to turn when Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz came together at the crease. Their seventh-wicket stand proved to be the saving grace for Bangladesh. Litton Das, who scored a valiant 138 off 228 balls with four sixes and 13 fours, formed a crucial partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who contributed 51 not out.
The pair’s resilient effort was highlighted by their stand of 111 runs, which was one of only three instances in Test cricket where a seventh-wicket partnership has exceeded 100 runs after the team was six down for under 50 runs. Litton Das’s century was his fourth in Test cricket and his first in over two years, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings under pressure.
The partnership between Litton and Mehidy Hasan prevented Bangladesh from being forced to follow-on, reaching 137 for six by the second session’s end. Despite their efforts, the innings concluded when Nahid Rana was dismissed for nought, leaving Bangladesh 12 runs short of Pakistan’s first-innings total.
Khurram Shahzad emerged as the standout bowler, claiming six wickets, while Salman Ali Agha and Mir Hamza supported with two wickets each.
Earlier, Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan on 274 after opting to field first on day two. Spinner Mehidy starred as he took five wickets while pacer Taskin Ahmed took three.
For Pakistan, three batters crossed the fifty-run mark. Skipper Shan Masood (57), Saim Ayub (58) and Salman Ali Agha (54) scored fifties.
Meanwhile, Babar Azam notched up 31 runs off 77 balls. has now gone 15 innings without scoring a fifty in Test cricket.
Remember, the first day of the game was abandoned on Friday due to rain.
Pakistan Playing XI
Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad.
Bangladesh Playing XI
Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana
