Litton Das downplayed the importance of his fourth Test century as Bangladesh mounted a strong resistance on the third day of their Test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Facing a dire situation at 26/5, Das stepped in and, despite losing Shakib Al Hasan in the very next over, he forged valuable partnerships with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (78) and Hasan Mahmud (13). These efforts ensured the second Test remained finely balanced as it approached the crucial fourth day.
Despite battling leg cramps, Das managed to score 138, hitting 13 fours and four sixes, helping Bangladesh stay in contention for a vital win in this ICC World Test Championship clash. He acknowledged the key contributions from Mehidy and Mahmud after the day's play, and rated his innings just behind his career-best score of 141 against Sri Lanka in 2022.
Reflecting on the innings, Litton mentioned that his century against Sri Lanka had come in a similar situation, and he felt fortunate to have another opportunity to contribute. He expressed satisfaction with the total, crediting Mehidy for his aggressive shot-making, which he said put Pakistan on the back foot. Das also noted that he had been injured after being struck by the ball, which made Mehidy’s support even more crucial.
Before stumps on the third day, Mahmud’s two wickets left Pakistan struggling at 9/2, in desperate need of a strong partnership to build a significant lead going into the final day's play.
Das accentuated the importance of the first hour on Monday, particularly with the new ball, as Bangladesh aims to further disrupt Pakistan’s batting. He highlighted that maintaining the right line and length with the second new ball in the first 20 overs would be crucial in keeping Pakistan’s score low and increasing Bangladesh's chances of securing a win.