Bangladesh wicket-keeper sets world record with gloves and bat against Afghanistan
Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Litton Das created history on Tuesday by becoming the first player in Test cricket to record nine dismissals behind the stumps while scoring a half-century and a century in the same match.
He surpassed the previous record held by South Africa’s Denis Lindsay.
In the Johannesburg Test against Australia in 1966, Lindsay scored 50-plus runs in both innings and recorded eight dismissals. By catching Ikram Alikhil, Litton surpassed Lindsay to set a new record.
The record for the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in a single Test match is now within Litton’s reach.
England’s Jack Russell, South Africa’s AB de Villiers and India’s Rishabh Pant currently share the record, with 11 dismissals each in a match. Litton needs two more dismissals to equal their record and three to break it.
The veteran wicket-keeper batsman produced a diving, one-handed catch to dismiss Ikram Alikhil, who scored 33, off Ebadot Hossain just before lunch. The dismissal added to Litton’s outstanding performance behind the stumps, where he had already taken several impressive catches and completed stumpings during the match.
He also shone with the bat, scoring 53 in the first innings and 102 in the second to help Bangladesh set Afghanistan a daunting target of 479 runs. Bangladesh declared their second innings at 372-7 after building a 478-run overall lead.
Afghanistan reached 208-4 in their second innings after 85.2 overs while chasing the target at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Sediqullah Atal remained unbeaten on 70 after facing 235 deliveries and hitting three fours and three sixes. Rahmat Shah contributed 51 before being dismissed by Ebadot, who claimed three wickets, while Shahidullah scored 19 and Ikram added 33.
Hashmatullah Shahidi retired hurt on 20, while Ismat Alam was unbeaten on nought at the other end. Afghanistan still faced a substantial challenge to reach the target, with Bangladesh pressing for the remaining wickets.