PAK vs BAN, 2nd Test: Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan helped Bangladesh bounce back on the second day of the second Test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi and put the team in the driver's seat. The team suffered a batting collapse and was reeling at 26/6 after 11.3 overs. Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza breathed fire and rattled Bangladesh's batting lineup.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Shadnam Islam, who had made significant contributions in the series opener, failed to fire with the bat. After that, Mehidy and Litton helped the team bounce back by stitching a partnership of 165 runs for the seventh wicket. Mehidy took a five-for and then scored a gritty knock of 78 runs, in which he had smashed 12 fours and a six.
Litton Das then scored his fourth Test century as they were railing by just 12 runs of Pakistan's total in the first innings. He scored 138 runs off 228 balls in which he had smashed 13 fours and a six but the Bangla Tigers were skittled out for 262 runs in 78.4 overs.
He also stitched a gritty partnership of 69 runs with Hasan Mahmud, who held the innings from one end and scored 13 runs. Mahmud also dismissed Abdullah Shafique and night-watchman Khurram Shahzad. At stumps, the Shan Masood-led had a lead of 21 runs with eight wickets remaining.
The Pakistan bowlers failed to live up to their expectations as Mohammad Ali was seen walking off the ground after bowling just seven overs. Abrar Ahmed, who was called back to the squad for this match, couldn't take any wickets in the 31 overs that he bowled. Shahzad was the pick among the bowlers as he registered figures of 21-3-90-6.
Salman Agha dismissed batters like Litton and Nishad Rana to ensure that the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side didn't take the lead. All eyes will be on batters like Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and others to extend their lead and give the Bangla Tigers a respectable target to chase.