On the opening day of the second and final Test against Pakistan, Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das stepped up with an impressive century, helping his team recover from a precarious position. He scored 126 runs off 159 balls, featuring 16 boundaries and two sixes. His performance was crucial as Bangladesh faced significant challenges early on, leading to a total of 278 all out in their first innings.

Das was the standout player for Bangladesh, as no other batter managed to make a significant contribution, with the next highest score being below 30 runs. This highlighted the effectiveness of Pakistan’s disciplined pace attack, which consistently pressured the Bangladesh batting line-up throughout the day.

Pakistan’s Bowlers Make Early Strikes

Pakistan’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Khurram Shahzad, who replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi, effectively dismantled the Bangladesh batting order. Shahzad recorded remarkable figures of 4 for 81, while veteran Mohammad Abbas backed him up with 3 for 45. Hasan Ali also played a key role, despite an early injury scare, finishing with figures of 2 for 49, including the significant wicket of Litton Das.

The day began well for Pakistan after captain Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bowl first. Abbas made an immediate impact, dismissing Mahmudul Hasan with just the second delivery of the innings, leaving Bangladesh in a vulnerable position. Debutant Tanzid Hasan provided a brief respite with a spirited 26 runs, showcasing some promising shots before being dismissed in the eighth over.

In an unfortunate turn, Hasan Ali fell awkwardly while taking the catch for Tanzid’s dismissal, necessitating a stretcher removal. This incident marked the end of a 44-run partnership between Tanzid and Mominul Haque, who was bowled shortly after for 22 runs, further deepening Bangladesh’s struggles as they slid to 63 for 3.

Das’ Dominance Fuels Bangladesh Recovery

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had impressive performances in the previous Test, attempted to stabilize the innings but fell victim to Abbas for 29 runs. Soon after, Shahzad struck again, picking up both Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan in swift succession, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 116 for 6.

In the face of adversity, Litton Das emerged as the backbone of the innings, forming a crucial 60-run partnership with Taijul Islam for the seventh wicket. Das showcased remarkable composure, steering the team back into contention. He notched his half-century off 93 balls, before accelerating and completing his sixth Test century off 135 deliveries with an elegant backfoot punch through the covers, generating significant applause from the spectators.

The aggressive batting style adopted by Das ensured that Bangladesh was competitive despite facing a series of setbacks. As the day drew to a close, Pakistan’s openers Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal managed to see off the final overs without losing their wicket, finishing the day at 21 without loss, thereby trailing by 257 runs.

Additionally, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam made a return to the squad for this Test after missing the first match due to a left knee injury, adding to the team’s strength as they look to consolidate their position in the series.

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