Litton breaks free with a smile, goes on to hit 53

Litton Das had every reason to smile after getting off the mark against Afghanistan on Friday. He made sure the dressing room knew it, too, raising his bat with a smile that mixed amusement with relief.

After three consecutive ducks in Test cricket, the Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter had finally got a run on the board. He went on to register his Test career’s 21st fifty on the opening day of the one-off Test at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium, turning a small personal triumph into a timely contribution to his side’s recovery.

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The drought had been particularly jarring given what came before it. In the preceding home Test series against Pakistan in Sylhet, Litton had scored a century and a fifty in Bangladesh’s 78-run victory. Then came the tour of Australia, where he failed to score in three successive Test innings. His scoreless outing against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games bronze-medal match added another unwelcome entry to his recent run.

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Bangladesh had made a strong start after opting to bat, with both openers, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Shadman Islam, scoring fifties as the Tigers raced past 220 for the loss of just two wickets. But the dismissals of experienced batters Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim, followed by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s wicket, threatened to derail the innings.

Coming in at No. 6, Litton joined Mehidy Hasan Miraz in a 62-run stand that helped prevent the middle-order collapse from becoming more damaging. His 53 off 89 balls, including three fours, gave Bangladesh some much-needed stability.

Litton eventually fell to a spectacular piece of fielding. Attempting a hook shot off right-arm quick Mohammad Saleem, who finished with an innings-high three wickets, he found Yamin Ahmedzai waiting in the deep square-leg region. Ahmedzai sprinted across to complete a brilliant running catch.

Bangladesh ended the day on 317 for eight after 84 overs, with Litton’s half-century helping them recover from a worrying passage of play.

The innings did not erase the disappointment of Australia or restore Litton’s form overnight. But after three consecutive Test ducks, he had raised his bat twice on Friday: first in jest after finally getting off the mark, then for his half-century -- a milestone that might have felt closer to three figures after his recent struggles.