Liton did something special: Bavuma

There has been little of note in the four days of the first day between South Africa and Bangladesh so far to showcase the latter's better qualities, until the fourth afternoon of the first Test at Senwes Park was lit up with two pieces of wicketkeeping brilliance from Liton Das.

With South Africa chasing quick runs for a declaration under cloudy skies and after a post-lunch rain interruption Temba Bavuma batting on 71, the right-hander reached across to paddle-sweep a ominul Haque delivery and Liton, seeing the movement, skipped across to the leg side and with razor sharp reflexes stuck his left hand out to pluck the ball almost off the face of the bat.

"I can't fault the shot that I played to be honest. At that point you had to take calculated risks," said Bavuma after the day's play. "The keeper did something quite special to take that catch."

Bavuma was full of praise for Liton, who has to be content with playing on the odd occasions that team plans or injuries compel skipper Mushfiqur Rahim to give up the big gloves. "He did have a really good game with the gloves. I don't think it's easy keeping on that kind of wicket where there is some variable bounce, especially for the spin. I think he held up quite well. I think he is the second choice keeper after Mushfiqur and I think he can hold his head up high for what he did with the gloves."

There was one more moment of inspiration when, at 222 for five in the 53rd over, Mominul saw Quinton de Kock skipping down the track and fired it down the leg side. De Kock missed, Liton was across in a flash to collect the ball and, with his momentum still taking him away from the stumps Liton threw himself at the stumps to complete his first stumping in his Test career.  

"I always enjoy wicketkeeping. Sometimes good things happen and sometimes there are misses," said Liton. "When it goes my way, I feel happy. It is all part of the game."

Such brilliance is not a one-off; Liton had pulled off a similar catch to that of Bavuma's when he caught Sri Lanka's Niroshan Dickwella's reverse sweep during the Galle Test in March earlier this year.

"I kept wickets in the practice game so I adjusted well. I am enjoying the conditions," Liton added.