Litons Fighting Century Rescues Bangladesh to 278 After Collapse

Amid a dramatic batting collapse, one innings stood tall and defiant. At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Liton Kumar Das kept Bangladesh alive in the contest on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan. Riding on his brilliant century, the hosts posted 278 runs in their first innings, while Pakistan finished the day on 27 without loss.

Bangladesh had a disappointing start after being sent in to bat first. Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy departed on the second ball of the innings. Debutant Tanzid Hasan Tamim also failed to stay long, returning to the pavilion when the team score was 44. He played an aggressive knock of 26 runs from 34 deliveries.

Mominul Haque, who had shown consistency in the Dhaka Test, could not continue that rhythm in Sylhet. The left-hander, who had scored fifties in his previous five innings, managed only 22 runs this time. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also failed to convert his start, scoring 29 runs.

Experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim was unable to make a significant contribution either. The former captain was dismissed for 23 runs. Soon after his departure, Mehidy Hasan Miraz also fell cheaply. The all-rounder scored just 4 runs, extending his recent poor run with the bat.

Bangladesh found themselves under massive pressure after losing six wickets for 116 runs. At that stage, Liton Kumar Das launched the resistance. He stitched together a 60-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Taijul Islam. Although Taijul departed for 16, Liton continued to fight from the other end.

Liton then added 38 runs with Taskin Ahmed for the eighth wicket before building another valuable stand of 66 runs with Shariful Islam. Showing patience and composure, the wicketkeeper-batter guided Bangladesh towards a respectable total with the lower-order batters.

Eventually, Liton was dismissed after scoring a magnificent 126 off 159 balls. His sparkling innings featured 16 boundaries and two sixes. He fell while attempting a boundary against a short ball from Hasan Ali. The century marked his sixth in Test cricket and 11th overall in international cricket.

Bangladesh could not add any more runs after Liton’s dismissal and were bowled out for 278. Khurram Shahzad claimed four wickets for Pakistan, while Mohammad Abbas picked up three and Hasan Ali took two. In reply, Pakistan ended the day on 27 without losing a wicket.