Litton-Miraj Break a 136-Year-Old Record

The day for Bangladesh can be divided into three distinct phases. It began with a nightmarish start full of apprehension, followed by a remarkable recovery thanks to Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and ended with Hasan Mahmood bringing some relief by taking a pair of wickets. Overall, it was a day of records for Bangladesh.

After being bowled out for 262 in their first innings yesterday in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh had a dreadful start in the morning, losing 6 wickets for just 26 runs. However, Litton and Miraz's partnership set a world record, helping the team rise from the ashes. Although Bangladesh couldn't take the lead, Hasan Mahmood compensated by picking up 2 wickets for Pakistan. By the end of the day, Pakistan had lost 2 wickets for 9 runs in their second innings, leading by 21 runs.


The morning was a nightmare for Bangladesh, as their batting lineup crumbled like a house of cards against the Pakistani pacers.

Zakir Ali departed in the fourth over of the day, caught by Abrar Ahmed off Khurram Shehzad's delivery. Just eight minutes later, Sadman Islam was granted a reprieve on the first ball he faced but soon fell for 10 runs off 23 balls, again to Khurram Shehzad. Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto also returned to the pavilion in the same over. 

The situation was dire, with batters returning to the dressing room faster than they could reach the crease. Mominul Haque was caught by Mir Hamza off Mohammad Ali's delivery on the first ball of the ninth over, following Khurram's double strike. Mushfiqur Rahim appeared confident at the crease, but the centurion from the previous Test also fell shortly after. With Shakib Al Hasan's dismissal, fears arose that Bangladesh might post their lowest Test score. However, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz turned the tide, defying the Pakistani pacers with aggressive strokes. Litton, who had been playing cautiously, gradually joined Miraz in putting pressure back on Pakistan, alleviating the early disaster through their composed and determined batting. After lunch, the duo started playing even more assertively.

Their partnership surpassed 150 runs, setting a world record. In the 147-year history of Test cricket, no pair had ever added 150 runs after their team lost six wickets for fewer than 50 runs. After Bangladesh was reduced to 26/6, Litton and Miraz forged a 165-run partnership for the seventh wicket, breaking the previous record held by Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal, who had added 115 runs after being 39/6 against India in Karachi in 2006. Only one other pair has managed a century stand after losing six wickets for fewer runs: West Indies’ Nkrumah Bonner and Joshua da Silva, who added 100 runs after being reduced to 18/6 against Sri Lanka in 2021. In the first Test of this series, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz had set Bangladesh’s record for the seventh-wicket partnership with 196 runs. Although Litton and Miraz couldn’t surpass that mark, they set another record: it was the first time a team had posted two 150+ partnerships for the seventh wicket in the same series. 

Miraz also set a personal record, achieving the highest innings score in Test history by a number eight batsman after a team had lost six wickets for under 30 runs. His 78 runs surpassed former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan’s 70, which was made after Pakistan was reduced to 26/6 against India in Kolkata in 1999. Taskin Ahmed was dismissed shortly after Miraz, leaving Bangladesh still far behind. Litton, too, faced the disappointment of potentially missing out on a century, but Hasan Mahmud’s steadfast support at one end allowed Litton to score his fourth Test century. Litton was eventually dismissed for 138, breaking their 69-run partnership. Bangladesh’s innings ended at 262 when Nahid was dismissed after one ball. The day concluded with Bangladesh’s bowlers claiming two quick wickets in the four overs they were given, bringing some consolation after a difficult start.

This remarkable turnaround also led to the rewriting of several records.

90.08%
After the collapse at 26 for 6, Bangladesh added another 236 runs, which accounted for 90.08% of their innings total. This is the highest percentage of runs scored after the fall of the sixth wicket in Test history, surpassing the previous record held by Australia since 1888. In that instance, Australia added 63 runs after being 6 for 7 in their second innings against England at Old Trafford, making up 90.00% of their total.

Litton-Miraj's 165-Run Partnership...

  • This partnership is now the highest seventh-wicket stand after losing the first six wickets for fewer than 50 runs in Test history. The previous best was 115 by Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal against India in 2006.
  • It is also Bangladesh’s second-highest partnership for the seventh wicket in Test matches. The highest remains the 196-run stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the previous Rawalpindi Test.

3
Litton Das has now scored three of his four Test centuries under circumstances where the team had lost five wickets before reaching 50 runs. No other player has more than two centuries in such challenging conditions.

26/6
This is the second time Bangladesh has lost their first six wickets for just 26 runs in a Test

match, the first being against South Africa in Durban in 2022. This marks a record for Bangladesh, having lost their first six wickets for the fewest runs in their Test history.

262
For the first time in Test history, Bangladesh managed to cross 200 runs in an innings after losing their first six wickets for fewer than 50 runs.

3
Khurram Shehzad has become the third Pakistani pacer to take 6 wickets against Bangladesh in a Test match, following in the footsteps of Waqar Younis (6/90) and Shoaib Akhtar (6/50).