PAK vs BAN: Lightning Litton Das

On day 3 of the 2nd Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, when the visitors came out to bat in the 2nd innings, they suffered a miserable start, being 6 wickets down with just 26 runs on the board against the young pace attack of the Pakistan team, who had already sent half of the team to the pavilion, requiring 4 more wickets to enforce the follow-on and save the series. But all the hopes of the Bangladesh cricket team were pinned on senior player Litton Das, who came out to bat at number 6. With over 10 years of international experience, he has been among the leading run-scorers for the Bangladesh team in all formats.

Coming to bat in these difficult circumstances, the wicketkeeper-batter played one of the best knocks of his cricketing career, taking the Bangladesh team from 26-6 to a score of 262, avoiding the follow-on. Das scored 138 runs during this innings, forming a match-saving partnership of 165 runs with Mehidy Hasan Miraz for the 7th wicket, showing his experience at the right time. He scored his 4th Test hundred against Pakistan after a brilliant half-century in the first Test, which was later won by the visitors by 10 wickets.

It would not be wrong to say that the Bangladesh national cricket team is showing its prowess, especially in the longer format of the game, where they have already defeated giant teams like Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, England, and Pakistan, with only India and South Africa left to beat in the red-ball format—a feat that could be achieved in the upcoming tour of Bangladesh to India.

Despite failing in ICC events over the last 5 years, the Bangladesh national cricket team has shown the cricketing world that they can beat any team on a given day by having some of the best players in their squad. One reason for the Bangladesh team's current rise is that their nation is going through a tough time, with their Prime Minister  resigned and fled to India after student protests over government reservations turned into riots.

Under these circumstances, the Bangla Tigers are trying to give a happy moment to their loyal fans by performing well in the ongoing series and dedicating their efforts to their country. After winning the toss, Bangladesh opted to bowl first at Rawalpindi National Cricket Stadium. They started well by picking the first wicket with a score of 0. However, after the fall of the first wicket, Captain Shan Masood and Saim Ayub formed a 106-run partnership for the second wicket. Irrespetive of getting a good start from these two batters, the Pakistan team tumbled again, losing 9 wickets in the span of just 158 runs, making it more difficult to save the series with only 264 runs on the board while batting first on day 2 of the final Test, with 3 days left to play at Rawalpindi National Cricket Stadium.

Meanwhile, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the leading wicket-taker for the Bangladesh team, taking 5 wickets and conceding just 61 runs in his 23-over spell. Along with him, Taskin Ahmed, who was picked in the playing XI in place of Shoriful Islam, who suffered a groin injury, bagged 3 wickets.

The Bangladesh team should thank Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who helped them avoid the follow-on by playing knocks of 138 and 78 runs, respectively, taking the team to a total of 262 runs.

Currently, the Pakistan team are 6 wickets down on the score of 93 runs and leading by 105 runs. Agha Salman and Riwan are at the crease by scoring 0 and 21, runs respectively.  Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud bagged 3 and 2 wickets.