Litton Das Rescues Bangladesh with 126, but it’s Pakistan’s missed review that could cost them this Test.
The One Review Pakistan Wish They Could Take Back
Picture this: Pakistan still have a review. Litton Das is on 52. Khurram Shahzad bowls a bouncer, the ball grazes the glove, wicketkeeper Rizwan takes it cleanly. The umpire says not out. Pakistan don’t review.
UltraEdge later shows a clear spike.
Litton goes on to make 126. Bangladesh post 278. Pakistan concede a 46 run first innings deficit.
One decision. One moment. That’s Test cricket.
How Bangladesh Went From 116/6 to 278
Pakistan chose to bowl first after winning the toss and for the first two sessions, it looked inspired. Mohammad Abbas removed opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for a duck off the second ball of the match.
Debutant Tanzid Hasan flashed 26 off 34 balls before a reckless pull shot ended his innings. Captain Shanto (29) and Mushfiqur (23) steadied briefly, then Bangladesh lost three wickets in 15 balls after lunch to collapse to 116/6.
Then Litton Das walked in at No. 6.
126 runs. 159 balls. 16 fours. 2 sixes. His sixth Test century.
He took 93 balls to reach fifty, then just 42 more to bring up his hundred finishing it with a silky cover drive off Shahzad, then launching the very next ball for six. Controlled aggression at its finest.
Did you know? This is the third time in Litton’s Test career that he has scored a century with Bangladesh already five or six wickets down. It is not luck it is a pattern.
The tail gave him everything he needed. A 60 run stand with Taijul Islam who faced 114 balls for just 16 runs, one of the great invisible contributions in recent Bangladesh cricket then 38 with Taskin Ahmed, then a crucial 64 run ninth wicket stand with Shoriful Islam off just 73 balls. The last four wickets added 162 runs. Pakistan’s discipline had evaporated.
Shahzad finished with 4/81. Pakistan also missed a second review on Mushfiqur another edge confirmed by UltraEdge. Two reviews. Two mistakes. Two batters who stayed at the crease longer than they should have.
The Bowler Babar Azam Cannot Solve and It's Costing Pakistan Everything
Taskin Ahmed set the tone immediately on Day 2, removing both Pakistani openers Abdullah Fazal caught behind in the second over, Azan Awais caught at short mid wicket after an inside edge. Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed captain Shan Masood (21) and Saud Shakeel in quick succession.
Pakistan at lunch: 96/4. The match was slipping away.
Babar Azam was the one bright spot: 68 off 84 balls, 10 boundaries, technically impressive against a disciplined Bangladesh attack. He and Salman Agha (21) built a 63-run fifth wicket stand that kept Pakistan’s hopes alive.
Then Nahid Rana produced the delivery of the match a clever change of pace, a length ball that Babar chipped tamely to Mushfiqur at mid on.
Stat to know: That was the third consecutive Test in which Rana has dismissed Babar Azam. At just 21 years old, the Bangladeshi speedster is developing a serious hold over one of the world’s best batters.
Taijul Islam finished the job: Salman Agha miscued a sweep to deep square leg, Rizwan was bowled through the gate by a beauty, and Hasan Ali holed out at mid on caught by Rana himself with a juggling effort under the Sylhet sun.
Sajid Khan refused to go quietly: 38 off 28 balls, four sixes including three in a row off Taijul. A fighting cameo, but not enough. Rana ended it with a change of line, Mominul diving at fly slip to take the catch. Pakistan all out 232.
Rana 3/60. Taijul 3/67. Bangladesh: 46 run first innings lead.
3 Reasons Pakistan Are Losing This Test And They're All Self Inflicted
The missed review cost Pakistan 74 runs. In a low scoring match, the difference between Litton out for 52 and Litton scoring 126 is enormous. Pakistan have no convincing explanation for that choice.
Bangladesh’s tail outbatted Pakistan’s middle order. Taijul, Taskin and Shoriful added 162 runs between them. Pakistan’s recognised batters outside Babar managed a combined 55.
Rana is no longer just fast he is smart. Dismissing Babar with a change of pace shows a level of tactical maturity that goes beyond raw pace. He is becoming a match winner in all conditions.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan Day 3 Preview: Target, Pitch and Match Prediction
Bangladesh opened their second innings at 20/1 (Tanzid Hasan edged behind) and lead by 66 runs overall with two and a half days remaining.
Pakistan already 1-0 down in the series after their 104 run defeat in Mirpur must win this Test to level. Chasing a revised target of 250 plus on a deteriorating Sylhet pitch will be a serious ask.
The match is alive. But everything points Bangladesh’s way.
Quick Results
- Bangladesh 1st innings: 278 (Litton 126 · Shahzad 4/81)
- Pakistan 1st innings: 232 (Babar 68 · Rana 3/60 · Taijul 3/67)
- Bangladesh 2nd innings: 20/1 — lead by 66 runs
FAQs: YOU KNOW
How many runs did Litton Das score in the Sylhet Test?
126 off 159 balls, with 16 fours and 2 sixes his sixth Test century, scoring from a Bangladesh collapse at 116/6.
Why didn't Pakistan use their DRS review on Litton?
Captain Shan Masood chose not to review when Litton gloved a bouncer on 52. UltraEdge confirmed a clear edge. Litton added 74 more runs.
Who is Nahid Rana?
A 21-year old Bangladeshi fast bowler who has now dismissed Babar Azam in three consecutive Tests. Pace, variation, and growing tactical intelligence.
