The stage is set for the final two days of the riveting second. Bangladesh and Pakistan play the Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet. Bangladesh batted first in this game and put up a decent total of 278 in 77 overs. Although the pitch was conducive to batting, the home team were not able to capitalise much on the mistakes made by the Pakistani bowlers.
Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das was the sole player who stood tall and ground it out for 159 balls to score a well-deserved 126. Pakistan, in response, got all out for 232, and Bangladesh made the most of this advantage to put up an impressive total of 390 in the third innings. Senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim was Bangladesh’s leading run-getter this time. He scored 137 off 233 balls, using the help of 12 boundaries and one six.
Das followed his first-innings century with 69 in this one. Now, with two days of action left, Pakistan need 437 runs to win this match and level the series. Bangladesh, who had earlier won the first Test, currently lead the series 1-0. If Pakistan chase this target down, they will be able to equalise and go home content. However, it is going to be a challenging ask for them, given the nature of this surface. The pitch here in Sylhet tends to deteriorate in the fourth innings of most red-ball matches, and it is likely to behave in a similar manner here.
Bangladesh have already bowled two overs at Pakistan, but the latter have not opened their scoring. Seamers Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana are expected to use the unpredictable nature of this surface to get a few balls to stay low. Spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam will play an even bigger role since the pitch will assist the turn. Bangladesh have an upper hand as their spinners know how this pitch will behave, and they will adjust their lines and lengths accordingly. Pakistan stare at a mountain of a task ahead of them.
