Sylhet, May 16: Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das hit a sublime century as Bangladesh recovered from early trouble on the opening day of the second and final cricket Test against Pakistan on Saturday.
He hammered 126 runs off 159 balls with 16 fours and two sixes to help Bangladesh post 278 all out in its first innings before Pakistan reached 21 without loss at stumps, trailing by 257.
No other Bangladesh batter reached 30 runs, exposing its batting vulnerability against a disciplined Pakistan pace attack.
Khurram Shahzad, who replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi in the squad, led the charge with 4-81 while Mohammad Abbas claimed 3-45.
Hasan Ali, who was stretchered off after falling awkwardly in his first over, returned later and finished with 2-49, including the wicket of Das.
Abbas struck in the second ball of the innings, dismissing Mahmudul Hasan for a duck after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Tanzid Hasan scored 26 on his Test debut. He struck Abbas for a cover-driven boundary before attacking Shahzad, who was one of Pakistan’s three changes from the first Test.
Tanzid was out after he top-edged a short delivery to give Abbas a return catch, ending his 44-run partnership with Mominul.
Mominul was bowled by Shahzad for 22 to leave Bangladesh 63-3. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim were defiant but Abbas broke through with the dismissal of Shanto for 29.
Shahzad dealt a double blow, sending back Mushfiqur (23) and Mehidy Hasan as Bangladesh was reduced to 116-6.
Das, who shared 60 runs with Taijul for the seventh wicket, raced to his sixth Test ton off 135 balls.
Pakistan batters Azan Awais (13 not out) and Abdullah Fazal (8 not out) safely negotiated six overs. (AP)
