Liton’s Sparkling Ton Leads Bangladesh Fightback against Pakistan on Day 1

Liton Das struck a sublime century to keep Bangladesh in the hunt of the second and final Test against Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. 

The wicket-keeper batter hammered 126 runs off 159 balls, smashing 16 fours and two sixes as Bangladesh recovered from a shaky start to compile a competitive 278 all out, before Pakistan reached 21 for no loss at stumps on Day 1. 

No other Bangladeshi batters managed to cross the 30-run mark, highlighting their widespread struggles against a highly disciplined Pakistan pace attack.

Khurram Shahzad, who replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi in the touring squad, led the bowling charge for the visitors with impressive figures of 4-81, while Mohammad Abbas claimed 3-45 to further deepen Bangladesh’s early batting crisis. 

Hasan Ali, who was stretchered off the ground after falling awkwardly in his very first over, later returned to the field and took 2-49, including the crucial wicket of Liton Das to ultimately wrap up the hosts' first innings. 

Abdullah Fazal on 6 and Azan Awais on 13 safely negotiated six overs from the Bangladeshi bowlers before the close of play to keep Pakistan completely unscathed at stumps.

The drama began early in the morning after Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to bowl first on a helpful surface. 

Abbas struck with just the second ball of the match, dismissing opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for a duck. 

Debutant Tanzid Hasan Tamim then counterattacked to ease the early pressure, driving Abbas elegantly through the covers for a boundary before treating pacer Khurram Shahzad with disdain. 

During this period, Hasan Ali suffered an awkward fall while attempting a return catch offered by Tanzid. 

The pacer landed heavily with the right side of his head hitting the turf and had to be stretchered off the field looking visibly dazed, forcing all-rounder Salman Agha to complete the over before Hasan later returned to resume his spell.

Tanzid’s fluent knock ended on 26 when he top-edged a short delivery back to Abbas, who completed a comfortable return catch to break a 44-run partnership with Mominul Haque. 

Mominul, who had struck half-centuries in both innings of the opening Test, was later clean bowled by Shahzad for 22 as Bangladesh slipped to 63-3. 

Fresh from his magnificent 101 and 87 in Bangladesh’s 104-run win in the first Test, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim steered the side through the torrid morning session with serenity, successfully keeping the Pakistan bowlers at bay.

However, Abbas struck back just after the lunch session by dismissing Shanto for 26, ensuring there would be no repeat of the skipper's heroics in this second match. 

While hopes rested heavily on the experienced Mushfiqur to bail the side out of danger, Shahzad dealt a devastating double blow by sending back Mushfiqur for 23 and quickly following it up with the dismissal of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, causing Bangladesh to implode further to 116-6.

Liton Das resisted fiercely when it looked as though Bangladesh was set to be dismissed for well below 200. Taijul Islam gave him apt support as the duo shared a crucial 60-run partnership for the seventh wicket. 

Offspinner Sajid Khan eventually broke through the stubborn stand, removing Taijul for 16 to claim his only wicket of the innings. 

Liton, meanwhile, raised his fifty off 93 balls and then aggressively accelerated the scoring rate as the remaining wickets continued tumbling around him. 

He brought up his next fifty runs off just 42 balls and raised his sixth Test ton off 135 balls with a sublime backfoot punch for a boundary through the covers, before Hasan Ali finally ended his brilliant stay to wrap up the Bangladesh innings just short of the 300-run mark.