Riding on Litton Das’ fighting hundred, Bangladesh staged a remarkable comeback in the ongoing second Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
In reply to Pakistan’s first-innings score of 274, the visitors were reeling at 26/6. However, the duo of Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz put on a 165-run stand for the seventh wicket to bail the team out of trouble.
While Mehidy fell after scoring 78, Litton went on slam his fourth Test hundred (138) to propel Bangladesh to 262 all-out, reducing the deficit to just 12 runs.
Known for his forthright opinions, out-of-favour opener Ahmad Shahzad slammed the Pakistan cricket for conceding advantage in the must-win second Test match.
"Pakistan have made another unwanted record against Bangladesh. It seems like Bangladesh cricket team has come only to make records. Pakistan bowlers did will to dismiss 6 Bangladesh batsmen for just 26 runs, but after that, you let a 150-run stand flourish. And this has happened for the first time in history that a team had taken 6 wickets inside 30 runs and then see a 150-run stand for the seventh wicket take the match away," Shahzad said in a video uploaded on his X handle.
Right-arm pacer Khurram Shahzad starred with the ball for Pakistan, claiming six wickets by conceding 90 runs in his 21 overs. Left-arm quick Mir Hamza also returned with a couple of scalps.
Ahmad Shahzad praised the fast-bowling duo for their stunning exploits as he remarked, "At a time it was looking that things are under your control. These youngsters (Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad) who had toiled hard in domestic cricket and hadn't come from Mohenjo-daro, had been waiting for their chances for a long time and today they got an opportunity because some senior bowler was missing and they both delivered for you. Khurram Shahzad bowled well today, hitting the weak areas of the Bangladesh batsmen, exposing their weak techniques and dismissed them."
At stumps on Day 3, the hosts were struggling at 9/2 with opener Abdullah Shafique out for three and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad falling for a duck.
Pakistan will be needing a herculean batting effort on the penultimate day to give their bowlers a chance to level the two-Test series at 1-1.
