Pakistan end Day 1 unscathed after Litton fightback
Pakistan ended the opening day of their second and final Test against Bangladesh unscathed, after a Litton Das century helped the Tigers recover from a precarious position and post a respectable first innings total at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
The visitors reached 21 for no loss in six overs, still trailing by 257 runs, with Azan Awais unbeaten on 13 off 20 deliveries and Abdullah Fazal not out on eight of 16 deliveries.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Earlier, Bangladesh managed to amass 278 all out in 77 overs, thanks to Litton Das' sixth Test ton, which saw the hosts recover after slumping to 116 for six.
Litton scored a 159-ball 126 -- his third Test ton against Pakistan. The wicketkeeper-batter helped Bangladesh bounce back into the contest by stitching partnerships of 60, 38, and 64 runs with tailenders Taijul Islam (16 off 40), Taskin Ahmed (7 off 13), and Shoriful Islam (12* off 30), respectively.
Ton-up Litton leads fightback to help Tigers amass 278
Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das led a fightback for Bangladesh, notching his sixth Test ton by stitching crucial stands with tailenders, and helping the hosts amass a respectable first-innings total on Day 1 of their second and final Test against Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
Litton scored a 159-ball 126 -- his third Test ton against Pakistan -- as Bangladesh amassed 278 all out in 77 overs.
Early in the second session, Bangladesh had lost three quick wickets -- those of skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz -- to slump to 116 for six.
However, since then, Litton carried on and stitched partnerships of 60, 38, and 64 runs with Taijul Islam (16 off 40), Taskin Ahmed (7 off 13), and Shoriful Islam (12* off 30) respectively, helping the Tigers get past the 250-run mark.
With 12 boundaries and a maximum, Litton got to the three-figure mark in 135 deliveries. He seemed to have upped the ante after reaching the milestone, smashing pacer Khurram Shahzad for a six over deep fine leg the very next delivery.
Litton went on to add more crucial runs, smashing four more boundaries before he perished off a Hassan Ali delivery -- caught at deep square leg while trying to hit over the fence.
Nahid Rana, the last batter, could only survive four deliveries as he nicked one back to the wicketkeeper in Hassan's next over.
Tigers trapped by movement in lively Sylhet conditions
Pakistan tightened their grip on the second Test after reducing Bangladesh to 116 for six midway through the post-Lunch session on Day 1 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
Having resumed after Lunch on 101 for three, Bangladesh added just 15 runs while losing the crucial wickets of skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the visitors’ disciplined pace-spin combination strangled the scoring rate.
Shanto, who had looked composed during his 74-ball 29, fell against the run of play when fast-medium Mohammad Abbas produced another probing delivery outside off. Caught in two minds while attempting to leave, the Bangladesh captain edged behind to Mohammad Rizwan, giving Abbas his third wicket.
Pakistan’s pressure continued to build as off-spinner Sajid Khan dried up one end with accuracy and urgency. Mushfiqur then suffered a marginal dismissal after Khurram Shahzad trapped him lbw for 23 off 64 deliveries. The experienced batter reviewed immediately, with replays showing the ball only clipping leg stump, but the on-field decision stayed on umpire’s call.
Miraz soon followed, unable to break free as Khurram Shahzad struck again with a short ball on middle. Going for the hook but not fully in control, the Bangladesh all-rounder top-edged it to deep fine leg where Hasan Ali completed a fine running catch, extending Pakistan’s control over the session.
The wicket left the Tigers in deep trouble after once appearing to recover through Shanto and Mushfiqur’s 47-run fourth-wicket stand.
Earlier in the day, Abbas had set the tone by removing misfiring Mahmudul Hasan Joy with the second ball of the match before debutant Tanzid Hasan threw away a promising start for 26. Khurram then produced a superb delivery to castle in-form Mominul Haque for 22 just before Lunch.
Shanto, Mushfiqur rebuild as Tigers reach 101-3 at Lunch
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim were left rebuilding the innings after Pakistan removed the Tigers’ top three batters in the opening session on Day 1 of the second and final Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
At Lunch, Bangladesh were 101 for three in 26 overs, having scored at a healthy rate only to be pegged back by wickets at regular intervals from the visitors, who won the toss and elected to field on a green-top pitch under overcast conditions.
In-form batter Shanto remained unbeaten on 26 off 51 deliveries, while Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 18 off 31 balls, with the pair stitching together an unbroken 38-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Pakistan struck very early when right-arm pacer Mohammad Abbas -- who troubled the Tigers the most in the first Test in Mirpur -- enticed opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy to poke at a slightly short delivery outside off on just the second ball of the day, with the edge carrying to second slip.
The visitors, however, suffered a setback in the first hour when pacer Hassan Ali had to be stretchered off the field after hitting his head on the pitch while attempting a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Tanzid Tamim. To Pakistan’s relief, Hassan later returned to the field and bowled a spell late in the session.
Debutant Tanzid looked solid and played some eye-catching off-drives for boundaries. But the left-hander, a regular in the Tigers’ white-ball set-up, threw his wicket away after getting settled, top-edging an Abbas delivery while trying to hit it over mid-on. After scoring 26 off 34 balls, Tanzid departed as Abbas completed a catch off his own bowling.
The wicket also ended a 44-run stand between Tanzid and Mominul Haque, leaving Bangladesh on 44 for two after 10 overs.
Just as Mominul and Shanto looked set to rebuild the innings again, Pakistan struck once more. This time, pacer Khurram Shahzad angled one into left-hander Mominul, who failed to defend it and lost his stumps. He departed after making 22 off 41 deliveries.
Shanto and Mushfiqur then steadied the innings, building cautiously to help Bangladesh recover. The experienced duo will look to continue in the same manner when play resumes in the second session.
Tanzid makes debut, Babar returns for Pakistan as Tigers asked to bat in 2nd Test
Bangladesh's aggressive opener Tanzid Tamim was handed his debut as the Tigers were asked to bat first after Pakistan won the toss in the second and final Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
The other change to Bangladesh’s XI from the first Test sees pacer Shoriful Islam replace Ebadot Hossain.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have been boosted by the return of experienced batter Babar Azam, who missed the first Test due to a knee injury. Babar comes in for opener Imam-ul-Haq, who failed to register a fifty in his last five innings.
The visitors made two other changes, with pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and left-arm spinner Noman Ali making way for pacer Khurram Shahzad and off-spinner Sajid Khan.
There was some rain at dawn, and the sky above the green-top pitch in Sylhet remains overcast -- conditions Pakistan will hope to exploit to generate movement and strike early.
However, with rain forecast throughout the five days, both teams will hope for minimal disruptions.
The Tigers lead the two-match series -- part of the World Test Championship -- 1-0 after securing a convincing 104-run win in the opener in Mirpur.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh XI: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumar Das (wk), Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana
Pakistan XI: Azan Awais, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Abdullah Fazal, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Khurram Shahzad, Sajid Khan, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Abbas
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