Liton, Mushfiqur stand tall in time of crisis
Both Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim had faced a fair share of criticism and got embroiled in controversies after Bangladesh's dismal showing in the ICC T20 World Cup. And that had seen them being eventually dropped from the three-match T20I series against Pakistan.
Ironically, it was Liton's maiden Test ton and Mushfiqur's solid unbeaten 82 that helped the hosts stage a dramatic fightback after being reduced to 49 for four against Pakistan on the opening day of their first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.
The hunger and determination from the two cricketers were visible as they batted for more than two sessions yesterday. Liton, struggling with cramps on way to his landmark score, was reluctant to throw it away and eventually achieved the feat.
Mushfiqur, on the other end, was rock solid and seemed like a man on a mission to re-establish his authority as the pillar of Bangladesh's batting line-up in absence of senior campaigners like Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.
By the end of the first day, the Tigers eventually posted 253 for four even though at one stage it seemed that yet another meek batting display from the Bangladeshi batters was on the cards.
Instead, there were records galore and Bangladesh ended on a good position on a day that had started with an earthquake and also saw a fire breakout near the stadium.
Both Liton and Mushfiqur complimented each other to register an unbeaten 204-run fifth-wicket stand which was Bangladesh's 12th ever 200-plus run partnership in the longest format. It was also Bangladesh's highest fifth-wicket stand at home and only the second 200-plus partnership against Pakistan in Tests.
It was, however, not an ideal situation when Liton joined Mushfiqur early in the first session as three of the four top-order batters -- Saif Hassan, Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto -- were dismissed after scoring 14 each while skipper Mominul Haque was dismissed on six.
In face of some serious fast bowling by Saheen Shah Afridi, Liton and Mushfiqur stayed firm and bided their time to tire out the visiting pacers. Bangladesh finished the first session with 67 for four on the board. Liton, in particular, looked more enterprising, mesmerising the crowd with his natural free-flowing strokes. The best shot of the day also came off his willow when he struck off-spinner Sajid Khan over long-on for a maximum.
Bangladesh slowly started to get back in the game, scoring runs with ease against the Pakistan spinners after lunch. Liton was the first to reach fifty just after the drinks break. Mushfiqur, who was more cautious in his approach, also reached fifty as Bangladesh went for tea without any more hitches along the way.
Liton, however, had some fortune. He was dropped on 67 by Sajid Khan at mid-wicket off the bowling of Afridi. But the right-hander was probably destined to register his maiden hundred as he survived another major run-out scare while taking a single to get to the landmark score.
Mushfiqur, who is now eyeing his eighth Test ton, also broke a few records. The experienced campaigner became the highest run-getter at home in Tests for Bangladesh as he surpassed Tamim Iqbal, who held the record with 2620 runs in Bangladesh. He also surpassed Mominul's score of 1203 runs to become the highest scorer at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.
Although Liton had a lean patch in T20Is this year, Liton only built on his stellar Test record in 2021. With 483 runs at an average of over sixty, the right-hander is now the second leading run-scorer as a wicketkeeper-batter in 2021 just behind India's Rishab Pant.
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