Bangladesh tightened their grip on the second Test against Pakistan in Sylhet as veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim guided the hosts to a commanding position on Day 3, pushing their lead beyond the 350-run mark with a composed and steady innings.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh had recovered from a precarious first-innings collapse thanks to a brilliant century from Litton Das. Coming in at No. 6, Litton struck 126 off 159 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes, rescuing Bangladesh after they were reduced to 116/6. His counter-attacking knock helped the hosts reach 278 in their first innings.
Pakistan had earlier struck early after opting to bowl first, with Mohammad Abbas removing Mahmudul Hasan Joy for a duck and debutant Tanzid Hasan for 26. Khurram Shahzad and Abbas continued to apply pressure as Bangladesh lost wickets in clusters, slipping further after lunch.
However, Litton’s partnerships with the lower order, including valuable contributions from Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam, lifted Bangladesh to a competitive total. Pakistan also missed key review opportunities, which proved costly as faint edges went unchallenged.
In reply, Pakistan ended Day 1 at 21 without loss but struggled to maintain control as Bangladesh built their second-innings lead. On Day 3, Mushfiqur Rahim once again stood firm, reaching 90* and stitching important partnerships to extend the advantage.
A productive session saw Bangladesh add 104 runs while losing just two wickets, taking their overall lead to 353 runs with four wickets still in hand. Despite brief breakthroughs, Pakistan’s bowlers struggled with consistency, including several no-balls that allowed Bangladesh to keep the scoreboard moving.
With a large lead and time still in hand, Bangladesh are now firmly in control of the match heading into the final stages.