Liton Das hit a scintillating hundred to lift Bangladesh from a precarious position to a remarkable turnaround on the third day of their second and final Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Liton struck 138 off 228 balls, hitting 13 fours and four sixes, a knock which helped the Tigers post 262, limiting first innings deficit to only 12.
A massive first innings deficit loomed large when Bangladesh were slumped to 26-6 early in the morning session, but Liton, accompanied by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, shared 165 for the seventh wicket to bail the Tigers out of danger.
The duo became the first pair in Test history to add 150 runs for the seventh or lower wicket after losing the first six before 50 runs.
Bangladesh pacers then put a further disciplined performance to leave Pakistan 9-2 in their second innings at stumps. Pakistan, who were bowled out for 274 in their first innings, were currently holding just 21 runs lead.
Resuming the day on 10-0, Bangladesh were undermined by an excellent swing bowling display from Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza.
They moved the ball admirably to leave Bangladesh batters at bay, with Shahzad particularly appearing to be unplayable.
Shahzad started with the wicket of Zakir Hasan and sliced Bangladesh鈥檚 top and middle order, aided by Hamza who took the prized scalp of Mominul Haque (1) and Mushfiqur Rahim (3), the hero of the first Test.
With the side reeling at 26-6, a follow-on scare was on, but Liton and Mehidy fought back admirably to keep Tigers in the contest.
They negated the swing with acumen and stubbornness while moving the feet splendidly to resist further collapse. As the shine of the new ball was gone, both of them found it easier to handle the bowlers.
They thereafter unleashed some brave shots to tick the scoreboard rapidly, keeping the side鈥檚 nose ahead.
The partnership was broken when Shahzad caught and bowled Mehidy to claim his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Mehidy hammered a dozen boundaries and one six for his 124 ball-78.
With Mehidy gone, Bangladesh鈥檚 deficit was still big, but Liton held his nerve. Shahzad again struck to dismiss Taskin Ahmed before Hasan Mahmud came up with valuable support for Liton.
Liton completed his fourth century and went strength to strength with Mahmud absorbing the pressure at the other end.
As he narrowed the deficit and took the side on the verge of taking the lead, Pakistan got a breakthrough from an unlikely source as occasional bowler Salman Agha had Liton caught by Saim Ayub.
Two balls later, Salman dismissed Nahid Rana for naught to wrap up Bangladesh鈥檚 innings.
Hasan, who was 13 not out from 51 balls, and opener Shadmad Islam (10) were the two other batters apart from Liton and Miraz to reach double digits.
Shahzad ended with a career-best 6-90, while Hamza and Salman picked up two wickets apiece.
Liton, who came to the crease with Bangladesh totting at 26-5, admitted that he was a little nervous at the start but happy by the end.
鈥業 took it positively and took responsibility,鈥� he said, adding that batting was not easy on the pitch.
Still, Shahzad praised Bangladesh鈥檚 batting.
鈥楽uch phases do come in Tests as we had one good session but then unfortunately they built a good partnership and we struggled,鈥� said Shahzad.
鈥榃e believe in our batting and I think we can set a challenging target for them,鈥� he added.
After his batting heroics, Hasan appeared as the nemesis of Pakistan at the business end.
In his first over, he produced a superb outswinger that Abdullah Shafique could only edge behind, and in the following over, Mahmud rattled the stumps of night-watchman Shahzad to give Bangladesh a sense of belief that they could win the match.
Bangladesh are leading the series 1-0 following their epic 10-wicket victory in the first Test.