Liton, Mushfiqur steady BD after top-order collapse

CHITTAGONG: Liton Das scored his maiden Test century as the Bangladesh wicket-keeper and Mushfiqur Rahim helped rebuild after a top-order collapse in the first Test against Pakistan in Chittagong on Friday.

At stumps on day one, Bangladesh were on 253 for 4 in their first innings with Liton unbeaten on 113 and Mushfiqur on 82.

Opting to bat first, the hosts were in trouble at 49-4 before the duo turned the tide with a 204-run unbroken fifth-wicket stand.

Liton led the charge, hitting 11 fours and hoisting off-spinner Sajid Khan over long on for his only six in the innings.

He struck left-arm spinner Nauman Ali to bring up his 10th Test fifty before Mushfiqur followed suit, his 24th in Tests, with a four off Hasan Ali.

Liton, who was dropped on 67 by Sajid at short midwicket off Afridi, completed his maiden Test hundred with a tricky single off left-arm spinner Nauman Ali.

He had to dive to complete the run after pushing Ali at midoff. A direct hit could have cost him his wicket on 99.

Mushfiqur also batted solidly, hitting 10 fours.

“We had a good first session by taking early wickets,” Hasan said. “We should appreciate the way Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim batted. They played really well.

“It’s a slow pitch and we need to bowl in good areas to get break-through. Bangladesh is in a good position at the moment,” said the pacer.

Pakistan’s bowlers had dominated the opening session as Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Sajid each claimed a wicket.

Afridi set the tone for Pakistan with a gem of a delivery in the fifth over that rose sharply to glance off opener Saif Hassan’s bat to Abid Ali at short leg. He made 14.

Hasan Ali trapped the other opener, Shadman Islam, leg-before for 14.

Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque fell soon afterwards, scoring just six as Sajid spun one sharply to take an edge that was gladly accepted by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

The umpire initially declared Mominul not out but the decision was overruled on review.

Najmul Hossain got off the mark with a four but he too soon perished, cutting a Faheem delivery straight to Sajid at point.

Pakistan handed batsman Abdullah Shafique a Test debut.

Score Board

Bangladesh won the toss

Bangladesh 1st innings

Shadman Islam lbw b Hasan Ali 14

Saif Hassan c Abid Ali b Shaheen 14

Najmul Shanto c Sajid b Faheem 14

Mominul (c) c †Rizwan b Sajid 6

Mushfiqur not out 82

Liton Das† not out 113

Extras: (lb 8, nb 1, w 1) 10

Total: (85 Ov, RR: 2.97) 253/4

Yet to bat: Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain

Fall: 1-19, 4.3 ov) 2-33, 7.6 ov) 3-47, 15.1 ov) 4-49, 16.2 ov)

Bowling: Shaheen Shah Afridi 18-4-50-1 Hasan Ali 13-3-38-1 Faheem Ashraf 10-2-38-1 Sajid Khan 22-3-68-1 Nauman Ali 22-5-51-0

Pakistan Team: Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan†, Nauman Ali, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sajid Khan,

Test Debut: Abdullah Shafique (PAK), Yasir Ali (BANG)

Umpires: Michael Gough, Sharfuddoula