Despite Bangladesh’s staggering recovery from 26-6 to 262 all out thanks to Liton Das’ heroic century against Pakistan on Sunday, the second Test held in Rawalpindi seemed to be within reach for both sides.
In the prolonged period of the game which lasted for 333 minutes, the 29-year-old Liton Das brought up 138 runs and together with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who chipped in with a dogged 78, took the fight back to the opponents with the bat sharing the 165 run seventh wicket partnership.
The first wicket fell for Pakistan’s second opening batsman Abdullah Shafique who was dismissed for three runs, and the third night watchman Khurram Shahzad was dismissed without a run and in reply at the close of the 3rd day of the test match left Pakistan trailing at 9 – 2 tumblers, scored by Bangladesh. The latter of these 2 dismissals was inflicted by Hasan Mahmud who was the bowler.
Former Pakistan batsman Ahmad Shahzad has been publicly disgraced for his brutal criticism of the Pakistan cricket team and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) several times. And yet, once again, the second test team did not stand out.
Recently in a video posted on his X handle, Ahmad Shahzad states, “Another unwanted record has been made by Pakistan. What it appears is that the Bangladesh cricket team has come only there to set records. Pakistan bowlers did well to bundle 6 Bangladeshi batsmen within the figures of 26 runs but then, you guys left a 150 run partnership grow like a wild fire. And this time, it has happened for the first in history. A team has taken 6 wicktes for 30 runs and then watch a team score a 150 run seventh-wicket partnership and take the match away.”
Appreciating the efforts of fast bowlers Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad, Ahmad Shahzad goes further to say, “At a moment it was looking that just about all the aspects were under your control. These youngsters (Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad) who had struggled to sniff nay attention in domestic cricket and were not fresh from Moenjo-daro, such kids were starving for their games and provided that some senior bowler was absent the both turned up for you. Khurram Shahzad bowled quite effectively to some of the Bangladesh batsmen seaming in the right areas so as to use them against their weak techniques and got rid of them.”
The stand established between Das and Mehidy was the highpoint of the day’s match, turning the course of the game.
Das also equaled the record of the highest partnership for the ninth wicket against Pakistan with tail ender Mahmud for 69 runs and this was scored in a frustrating innings of 24.5 overs in which Das contributed an agglomerating not out score of 13.
Having reached his forth hundred in a Test match after being spilled by spinner Abrar Ahmed when on ninety when Das connected a late cut off the same bowler. Later he was taken to Agha Salman.
In a difficult position of 26-5, Das responded menacingly, hammering 13 boundaries and four sixes in the course of a tremendous 236 for the last four wickets, as he came to the crease.
Pakistan are a lead of 21 runs and in order to secure a win that will even the series at one test apiece have to play under control as they are coming from a ten wicket loss in the first Test which was also held in Rawalpindi.
Bangladesh achieved the victory last week after losing their previous fourteen encounters with Pakistan.
