Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh declared their first innings making a massive 541 for the loss of seven wickets against Sri Lanka on the third day of the first Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka on Friday.
In reply, Sri Lanka were 229/3 at stumps.
Bangladesh led by 312 runs in the first innings.
The visitors resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 474 for the loss of four wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 43 and 25 runs respectively.
The ace batsman and Liton Das added together 37 runs for the fifth wicket stand on the third day before Liton Das was caught at the gully by Oshada Fernando off Vishwa Fernando when Bangladesh’s score was 511 for the loss of five wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten with 68. His 156-ball innings was belted with six fours. It was Mushfiqur’s 23rd Test half-century. Mushfiqur reached the 50-run landmark playing 120 balls including four fours.
Liton Das hit an exact 50. He struck five fours and a sixer in his 67-ball knock. It was Liton’s eighth Test half-century.
Then Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam were dismissed for three and two runs respectively.
Vishwa Fernando captured more two wickets on the third day. He claimed four wickets at the cost of 96 runs.
Suranga Lakmal was the other bowler for the hosts who got success on the third day. He took one wicket conceding 81 runs.
Sri Lanka made a solid start as the openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne put on together 114 runs in the opening stand before Thirimanne was trapped leg before wicket by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Thirimanne made 58 from 125 balls featuring eight fours.
Then Taskin Ahmed struck as one-down Oshada Fernando (20) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Liton Das off Taskin when the home side’s score was 157 for the loss of two wickets.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam bowled out Angelo Mathews for 25 when the Islanders’ total was 190 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva contributed together 39 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket partnership before the third day’s play came to an end.
Karunaratne remained unbeaten with 85, while Dhananjaya remained unbeaten with 26.
Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took one wicket each for 35, 56 and 60 runs respectively.
