RAWALPINDI: A determined century by Litton Das and a resilient performance from Mehidy Hasan Miraz have kept Bangladesh in contention as they look to overhaul Pakistan’s narrow first-innings lead in the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
At stumps on Day 3, the Pakistan team was at 9/2, holding a narrow 21-run lead over Bangladesh. Pakistan’s position is far from secure as they lost two wickets in their brief final session of the day. Abdullah Shafique, struggling for form, was the first to go, dismissed cheaply, while nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad followed soon after, falling to Hasan Mahmud.
The day began with Bangladesh resuming at 10 without loss. Despite losing six wickets in a flurry during the morning session, the 165-run partnership between Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz for the seventh wicket was a beacon of resilience. Their partnership not only helped Bangladesh avoid the follow-on but also brought the visitors back into the game.
Litton Das, who scored a commendable 138 runs, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who contributed 78 runs, played with a mix of aggression and grit. Their efforts ensured Bangladesh reached a total of 262, just 12 runs short of Pakistan’s first-innings score of 274. Bangladesh’s innings was eventually halted with the dismissal of Nahid Rana.
Pakistan’s bowlers were in formidable form earlier in the day. Khurram Shahzad led the charge with a six-wicket haul, claiming the wickets of Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taskin Ahmed. His disciplined bowling, alongside contributions from Mir Hamza and Salman Ali Agha, who each took two wickets, put Bangladesh under pressure.
Mir Hamza’s performance was particularly notable as he created several chances, although a couple of opportunities, including a missed leg-before-wicket call and a dropped catch, went begging.
Pakistan’s own batting performance in their second innings has been less than ideal. They began their innings with the hopes of establishing a strong position but quickly found themselves on the back foot. The day ended with their score at 9/2, still trailing by 21 runs.
The Test match has been disrupted by weather, with the first day’s play being washed out due to heavy showers.
