PAK vs BAN | Litton ton and Mehidy fifty drive Bangladesh into ascendancy from 26 for 6 on Day 3

Gantavya Adukia

ByGantavya Adukia, SportsCafe Editor

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Bangladesh pulled off a recovery for the ages on Day 3 to take the edge in the second Test despite being down 26/6 in the first session. A 165-run stand between Litton Das and Mehidy Haasan Miraz helped restrict Pakistan's lead to 12 before two early blows left the hosts reeling at 9/2 at Stumps.

Brief score:Ā PAK 274 & 9/2 [Ayub 6*; Mahmud 2/3] lead BAN 262 [Litton 138, Mehidy 78; Khurram 6/90] by 21 runs at Stumps on Day 3

Resuming from an overnight score of 10/0 after bowling out Pakistan for 274 on Day 2,Ā openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan got off to a rocky start on Sunday in the face of significant swing by Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad. The duo managed to add just four runs in as many overs before the pressure inevitably took its toll andĀ Zakir flicked a Khurram delivery straight to short mid-wicket. The right-arm pacer then sent Shadman's leg stump flying with a wildly hooping inswinger in his next over, and two balls later, uprooted skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto's middle-stump with another inducker. Hamza joined in on the act by getting a leading edge off Mominul Haque three balls later and having Mushfiqur Rahim nick behind with a jaffa in his next over. Khurram added a fourth with his tally by trapping Shakib Al HasanĀ in front of the stumpsĀ six balls later and Bangladesh suddenly found themselves in a nightmare position of 26/6. Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz stood steadfast thereafter through to Lunch asĀ batting became a bit easier with the ball losing shine to head into the break at 75/6.

Upon resumption, the visiting duo began to play with renewed confidence, best demonstrated in the 31st over byĀ Litton's three consecutive boundaries followed by one from Mehidy for good measure. Given the washout on Day 1, the follow-on margin was a mere 150 but it was quickly made irrelevant as theĀ Tigers went past the dreaded mark in the 36th over. TheĀ 100-run mark for the partnership, as well as individual half-centuries for the two batters, came within the space of a couple of overs while Pakistan had to contend with rotating the ball amongst Khurram, Hamza, and Abrar after Mohammad Ali took to the sidelines with some discomfort. Litton's increasing confidence thereafter culminated in a six and a four off Khurram in the 46th over followed by Mehidy replicating the effort in the 50th over. However, Khurram ultimately had the last laugh by catching Mehidy's chip off his own bowling in his next over to end the burgeoning 165-run stand. Taskin followed suit shortly after to takeĀ the Tigers to Tea at 193//7 with Litton unbeaten on 83.

The veteran crawled his way to a fourth Test ton in the final session and was given able company by HasanĀ Mahmud at the other end. The duo added 65 for the ninth wicket, of which Hasan's contribution was a 51-ball 13, while Litton went after Abrar with a couple of gorgous maximums to take charge of the game. It ultimately took part-timer Salman Ali Agha to have the veteran holed out for 138 and Nahid Rana's two-ball stay meant the innings was wrapped up for 262.

Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique walked out hoping to survive the four overs left in the day butĀ Hasan had different plans as he had the latter caught at slip with an outswinger, prompting the hosts to send in Khurram as the night watchman. The tailender fulfilled his role to the T asĀ someĀ beautiful away movement from Mahmud clipped his off stump and signalled the end of theĀ day's play on a high note for the Tigers.

MVP of the day!

Massive recovery!

That was outta no where!

He did it so well!

Absolute sheer carnage!

LOL! xD xD

Nice bowler!

Hahaha funny!

LOL!

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