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Pakistan wraps up Day 3 with two wickets down after dismissing Bangladesh for 262

Pakistan will start Day 4 with nine runs and two wickets down, holding a 21-run lead

Pakistan wraps up Day 3 with two wickets down after dismissing Bangladesh for 262 PHOTO: AFP

Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das delivered a masterful innings of 138 runs, guiding Bangladesh to a competitive total of 262 in their reply to Pakistan's first-innings score of 274.

On the third day of the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Das's crucial knock provided a significant boost for the visitors as they aimed to shift momentum in their favor.

Bangladesh faced early adversity, with Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad reducing them to a precarious 26/6. However, Litton Das, in partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, engineered a remarkable recovery, adding 165 runs for the seventh wicket and laying a strong foundation.

Das's outstanding performance continued as he added 69 runs with Hasan Mahmud for the ninth wicket. His innings, spanning 228 balls and including 13 fours and four sixes, was eventually ended when he was caught by Saim Ayub off Salman Ali Agha's bowling. Agha also dismissed Nahid Rana to wrap up Bangladesh's innings.

Earlier, Bangladesh dismissed Pakistan for 274, thanks to a stellar bowling effort from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who took five wickets, and Taskin Ahmed, who claimed three. For Pakistan, Shan Masood (57), Saim Ayub (58), and Salman Ali Agha (54) all scored half-centuries, while Babar Azam contributed 31 runs and continues his search for a first fifty in Test cricket in 15 innings.

As play resumed on day three, Pakistan faced further setbacks with Hasan Mahmud removing Abdullah Shafique (3) and night watchman Khurram Shahzad (0). At the close of play, Pakistan had added nine runs for the loss of two wickets and holds a slender lead of 21 runs.

The first day of the Test was washed out due to rain, adding to the intrigue of this closely contested match.

Playing XIs

Bangladesh XI: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

Pakistan XI: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad