Published on 12:00 AM, May 24, 2022

Mushy, Liton script epic turnaround

Mushfiqur Rahim (R) embraces Liton Das after the latter reached his century on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. The former, too, got to three-figure mark later as Bangladesh went from 24 for five to 277 for five at the end of the day. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED
Staff Correspondent

Following a disastrous start from Bangladesh that saw them reeling on 24 for five in the first hour of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the hosts staged an outstanding comeback courtesy of a record-breaking unbeaten partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das. At the close of play on the first day, the Tigers had reached 277 for five at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Mushfiqur struck his second consecutive century of the series, his ninth Test ton, and remained unbeaten on 115 off 252 balls while Liton continued his sublime form, smashing his third Test hundred and remaining unbeaten on 135 off 221 deliveries.

It was undoubtedly one of Bangladesh's greatest comebacks, especially given the nightmarish start after Mominul Haque elected to bat.

The Lankans came out all guns blazing in the morning session, annihilating Bangladesh's top-order with a fine spell of new-ball bowling from Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando. The Tigers lost five wickets for 24 runs, including the prized wickets of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mominul, as Bangladesh started the day establishing a few unwanted records.

Bangladesh lost openers Tamim and Mahmudul Hasan Joy without troubling the scorers, which was only the third time that Bangladesh lost both openers for duck in a Test innings. After Najmul Hossain Shanto and captain Mominul Haque were sent back for single digits, the experienced Shakib was dismissed for a duck, becoming the third Bangladeshi batter to be dismissed without troubling the scorers. Rajitha ended the day with three wickets for 43 runs from 19 overs while Fernando bagged two.

But after that initial barrage from the visitors, it was all Mushfiqur and Liton. The pair took their time and showed great patience in rebuilding the innings, ensuring Bangladesh did not lose anymore wicket in the next two sessions. Eventually, the duo went on to dominate the visitors.

Mushfiqur seemed to be a man on a mission, hitting back at his critics with the bat, while Liton was lucky to get a reprieve after being dropped on 47 but he never looked back since.

The unbeaten 253-run stand between Mushfiqur and Liton was the highest sixth-wicket stand for the Tigers in Tests and the fifth-highest stand for Bangladesh for any wicket. Bangladesh's aim now will be to put up a good first innings total when the two batters resume the second day today.

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