Liton hits century after four ducks
Md ismail Hossain
Bangladesh wicket-keeper batter Liton Das ended the curse of ducks in style with a half-century and century in two innings of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Sheikh Jayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday.
Liton struck 53 runs in the first innings before hitting a 102 in the second innings to keep Bangladesh’s nose ahead of Afghans after registering four ducks in the last five International matches.
He struggled during Bangladesh's recent tour of Australia, registering three straight ducks in three innings. He then scored 2 against Pakistan in Asian Games T20 event to break the sequence of ducks but again was out for naught against Sri Lanka, making it four ducks in five International matches before the Afghanistan Test.
His return to form in Abu Dhabi was therefore a significant relief for the Bangladesh camp. After reaching a half-century in the first innings, Liton raised his game in the second, producing an aggressive innings that combined elegant strokeplay with calculated attacking shots.
He shared a 149-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, helping Bangladesh build a stronger position. Liton's innings was marked by an impressive late cut and a series of well-timed straight drives that put the Afghanistan bowlers under pressure.
Apart from his batting, Liton also made valuable contributions behind the stumps, demonstrating his importance to the side.
Liton also reached the milestone of 9,000 international runs during the Test, becoming the fourth Bangladesh batter to achieve the feat. His Test record now includes seven centuries and 21 half-centuries.
