Ton-up Das Helps Bangladesh Thwart Pakistan in 2nd Test

AFP/APP

Rawalpindi: Liton Das hit a fighting hundred to lift Bangladesh from a precarious 26-6 to a respectable 262 all out on Sunday, in a remarkable turnaround that left the second Test in Rawalpindi finely poised.

The 29-year-old scored 138 during a marathon 333-minute innings, bringing Bangladesh back into the match with a gritty 165-run seventh-wicket partnership alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who contributed a defiant 78.

By the close of the third day, Bangladesh struck back to leave Pakistan struggling at 9-2. Opener Abdullah Shafique was dismissed for three, and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad fell without scoring, both to pacer Hasan Mahmud.

Saim Ayub was not out on six, as the home team led by just 21 runs, needing to bat carefully to secure a series-levelling win after losing the first Test by 10 wickets, also in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh’s win last week was their first in 14 attempts against Pakistan.

The highlight of the day was the match-turning stand between Das and Mehidy. Das further extended his team’s total by adding 69 runs with tail-ender Mahmud (13 not out) in a 24.5-over ninth-wicket partnership, equalling the record for the highest partnership against Pakistan.

Das, who was dropped on 90 by spinner Abrar Ahmed off his own bowling, reached his fourth Test hundred with a late cut off the same bowler. He eventually holed out to Agha Salman at long-on, after rescuing his team from a dire situation at 26-5.

Das’s innings included 13 boundaries and four sixes, adding a crucial 236 runs for the last four wickets.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan seemed to be in a strong position, thanks to pacer Khurram Shahzad’s career-best 6-90 and Mir Hamza’s 2-50 in the morning session. However, their efforts were nullified as Das and Mehidy took advantage of the eased-out Rawalpindi stadium pitch in the second session of the rain-affected Test, which saw Friday’s first day washed out.

Shahzad, who had taken 4-15 in his first spell, eventually got Mehidy caught and bowled off a miscued drive two overs before tea, ending Pakistan’s long wait for the seventh wicket. Das and Mehidy made history as the first pair in Tests to add 150 or more runs for the seventh or lower wicket from a team total under 50 runs.

Mehidy, who had taken 5-61 on Saturday, hit 12 boundaries and a six as he passed fifty for the eighth time in Tests.

Bangladesh had resumed the day at 10-0, but Shahzad soon had opener Zakir Hasan caught by Abrar Ahmed at short midwicket for one in the fourth over. Shahzad then bowled Shadman Islam (10) and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (four) in the space of four deliveries, reducing Bangladesh to 20-3.

At the other end, Hamza removed Mominul Haque for one, caught by Mohammad Ali at mid-on, and then dismissed first Test centurion Mushfiqur Rahim for three, caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan from a beautiful outswinger. Shahzad made it 26-6 by trapping Shakib Al Hasan lbw for two before Mehidy and Das began their resilient fightback.

Shahzad’s previous best figures were 3-45 in his debut Test against Australia in Perth last year.