Litton Das Century Saves Bangladesh in Second Test Against Pakistan
A Resilient Recovery at the Crease
In a gripping opening day of the second and final Test match against Pakistan, Bangladesh found themselves staring down the barrel of a collapse before wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das stepped up to produce a sublime century. His defiant 126 runs off 159 balls provided the backbone for the Bangladesh first innings, ultimately steering the hosts to a total of 278 all out. By the close of play, Pakistan had navigated six overs without loss, ending the day at 21-0 and trailing by 257 runs.
Early Struggles Against Disciplined Bowling
The morning session began with Pakistan asserting their dominance immediately after winning the toss and choosing to bowl. Muhammad Abbas made an instant impact, dismissing Mahmudul Hasan for a duck on just the second ball of the match. While debutant Tanzid Hasan showed flashes of promise with a stylish 26, the Bangladesh top order struggled to counter the clinical precision of the Pakistan pace battery.
Khurram Shahzad, stepping into the side for Shaheen Shah Afridi, proved to be the standout performer with the ball. He dismantled the middle order to finish with impressive figures of 4-81. The pressure was compounded by Muhammad Abbas, who claimed 3-45. Even Hasan Ali, who briefly left the field after a concerning injury in his first over, returned to claim 2-49, highlighting the relentless nature of the visiting bowling attack.
Litton Das: The Architect of the Fightback
With Bangladesh reeling at 116-6, the game appeared to be slipping away. However, Litton Das, supported by valuable partnerships—most notably a 60-run stand with Taijul Islam—began to orchestrate a recovery. Das, who was dropped on 33 by Sajid Khan off his own bowling, capitalized on his luck to craft a masterful innings featuring 16 fours and two sixes.
Reflecting on his approach, Das noted that his initial focus was merely to guide the team past the 200-run mark rather than personal glory. It was only after reaching his half-century that he shifted gears, taking a more aggressive stance to accelerate the scoring. He reached his sixth Test century off 135 balls with a trademark backfoot punch through the covers, silencing the pressure that had mounted earlier in the day.
A Tactical Battle
The innings served as a reminder of Bangladesh’s batting vulnerabilities when faced with high-quality seam bowling. Apart from Das, no other batter managed to surpass the 30-run mark, underscoring how reliant the side was on his individual brilliance. Mominul Haque, who had been in fine form, was dismissed for 22, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for 29.
On the flip side, the Pakistan coaching staff and players acknowledged the narrow margins of the day. Khurram Shahzad remarked post-match that the game could have looked very different had the two chances offered by Das been accepted in the field. Despite the dropped catches, Pakistan’s discipline ensured that they kept the total under 300, a feat they will hope to capitalize on when they resume batting on day two.
Looking Ahead
As the match heads into the second day, Pakistan’s openers, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, remain at the crease with the task of narrowing the deficit. With Babar Azam back in the squad following his recovery from a knee injury, the visitors possess the batting depth to mount a strong response. For Bangladesh, the priority will shift to their bowling unit, which must replicate the discipline shown by Pakistan if they are to defend their total and maintain their dominance in this series following their 104-run victory in the opening Test in Dhaka.
The stage is set for a fascinating second day of cricket, with the match hanging in a delicate balance between a fighting total and a strong, experienced visiting lineup.
