Litton Das Century Rescues Bangladesh in Second Test vs Pakistan

A Resilient Fightback in Rawalpindi

The opening day of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of cricket. Facing a potent and disciplined Pakistan pace attack, Bangladesh found themselves in deep trouble early on. However, wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das stood tall, crafting a sublime century that salvaged the innings and provided the visitors with a fighting chance in the match.

After Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl, the conditions seemed perfectly suited for their seamers. The early breakthroughs justified the decision, as the Bangladesh top order struggled to settle in. Mohammad Abbas, in particular, was lethal, dismissing Mahmudul Hasan for a duck on just the second ball of the match. The early departure set a somber tone for the visitors, who were looking to build on their historic success in the first Test.

The Struggle Against the Pakistan Pace Attack

Despite a brief spark from debutant Tanzid Hasan, who managed a brisk 26, the Bangladesh batting lineup largely crumbled under pressure. Tanzid’s dismissal, a top-edged shot caught by Abbas, marked the end of a promising 44-run partnership with Mominul Haque. With Mominul also falling for 22, the visitors were reeling at 63-3.

The middle order, which had performed admirably in the series opener, failed to capitalize. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, coming off a stellar performance in Dhaka, was removed for 29, and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim followed shortly after for 23. By the time Mehidy Hasan departed, Bangladesh were in a precarious position at 116-6, staring down the barrel of a sub-200 total.

Litton Das: The Architect of the Recovery

Enter Litton Das, who played what might be one of the most critical innings of his Test career. He demonstrated immense maturity, building crucial partnerships with the tail-enders. His 60-run stand with Taijul Islam acted as the foundation for his surge. Litton reached his half-century off 93 balls, but it was his aggressive shift in momentum after the milestone that truly changed the game.

Displaying his trademark technical prowess, Litton hammered 16 fours and two sixes, reaching his sixth Test century in just 135 balls. A sublime backfoot punch through the cover region sealed the milestone, much to the delight of his teammates. He eventually finished with a fluent 126 off 159 deliveries, ensuring Bangladesh reached a competitive total of 278.

Pakistan’s Bowling Effort and Injury Concerns

Pakistan’s pace battery was undeniably the standout performer for the hosts. Khurram Shahzad, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi, claimed an impressive 4-81, while Mohammad Abbas maintained exceptional control to finish with 3-45. Hasan Ali, who faced an injury scare early in the day when he fell awkwardly, returned to the field later to chip in with 2-49, eventually picking up the key wicket of Litton Das.

The Pakistan bowlers were admittedly let down by some missed opportunities in the field. Litton Das was dropped on 33 by Sajid Khan off his own bowling, a reprieve that proved costly for the home side. As Khurram Shahzad noted post-match, the game could have looked very different had those chances been converted, potentially keeping Bangladesh under the 200-run mark.

Stumps at Day One

As the sun set on a riveting day of Test cricket, Pakistan’s openers, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, safely navigated the tricky final six overs of the day. Finishing at 21-0, Pakistan trails by 257 runs heading into the second day. With the return of star batter Babar Azam to the squad, the hosts will be looking to build a massive first-innings lead, while Bangladesh will be eager to strike early with the new ball to disrupt the Pakistani top order.

The stage is set for a gripping second day, as both sides look to seize control of the Test match. Bangladesh’s resilience has kept the contest alive, but with a full day of batting ahead for Pakistan, the bowlers will need to be at their absolute best to capitalize on the momentum gained by Litton’s heroics.