Mehidy, Das put on 165 as Bangladesh recover from 26-6

Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz put on 165 for the seventh wicket on Sunday to rescue Bangladesh from 26-6 in reply to Pakistan’s 274 on the third day of the second Test in Rawalpindi.

At tea, Bangladesh were 193-8, with Das on a brilliant 83 not out, still trailing by 81 runs with two wickets in hand.

All-rounder Mehidy also passed fifty as the Bangladesh pair fought back but he was out just before tea when pace bowler Khurram Shahzad, who had ripped through the top order, took his fifth wicket of the innings with the score on 191.

Shahzad then removed Taskin Ahmed for one in the next over to go to the interval with career-best figures of 6-73.

Das and Mehidy’s solid stand took advantage of a Rawalpindi stadium pitch which eased out in the second session of the third day of the rain-affected Test, which saw Friday’s first day washed out.

Shahzad, who had taken 4-15 in his first spell, had Mehidy caught and bowled off a miscued drive two overs before tea to end Pakistan’s long and frustrating wait for the seventh wicket as they chase a series-levelling win.

Bangladesh lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, by 10 wickets — their first win in 14 matches against Pakistan.

Earlier, Shahzad ripped through the top order with 4-15 and fellow quick bowler Mir Hamza took 2-29 as Bangladesh collapsed to 26-6 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings 274 in the rain-affected match which saw Friday’s first day washed out.

At the break, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was on 33 and Litton Das 13 as the pair fought to repair the innings with a dogged unbroken seventh-wicket stand worth 49. Mehidy has hit seven fours so far in his gritty 48-ball knock but Bangladesh still need another 49 runs to avoid the follow-on with four wickets remaining.

Bangladesh resumed on 10-0 but Shahzad soon had opener Zakir Hasan caught by Abrar Ahmed at short midwicket for one in the fourth over. Shahzad then bowled Shadman Islam (10) and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (1) in the space of four deliveries to reduce Bangladesh to 20-3.

At the other end, Hamza had Mominul Haque caught by Mohammad Ali at mid-on for one and then removed first Test centurion Mushfiqur Rahim for three, caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan from a beautiful outswinger.

Shahzad made it 26-6 by trapping Shakib Al Hasan lbw for two before Mehidy and Das dug in.