Sports Reporter :
Sri Lanka made 238 for the loss of seven wickets in their first innings against Bangladesh on the opening day of the 2nd test at P Sara Oval in Colombo on Wednesday. It is noteworthy that the ongoing Test is the 100th Test for Bangladesh after getting Test status in June 2000.
Sri Lanka had a disastrous start as they lost their early three wickets for 35 runs only.
Mustafizur Rahman gave his team early breakthrough as opener Dimuth Karunaratne (7) was caught at the gully by Mehedi Hasan Miraz when the hosts’ score was 13.
One-down Kusal Mendis (5) was stumped out by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mehedi Hasan Miraz when Sri Lanka’s total was 24 for the loss of two wickets. Upul Tharanga (11) was caught at the first slip by Soumya Sarkar off Mehedi Hasan Miraz when the home side’s score was 35 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Dinesh Chandimal and Asela Gunaratne added together 35 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Gunaratne (13) was trapped leg before wicket by Subashis Roy when Sri Lanka’s total was 70 for the loss of four wickets.
After removal of Gunaratne, Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva built a worth partnership for the islanders. They produced together 66 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Silva was bowled out by Taijul Islam when the team’s score was 136 for the loss of five wickets.
Chandimal remained unbeaten with 86. His 210-ball sedate innings was decorated with four fours. It was Chandimal’s 12th Test half century.
Silva made 34 from 54 balls featuring five fours.
After dismissal of Silva, Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella contributed together 44 runs for the six-wicket stand before Dickwella was cleanly bowled out by Shakib Al Hasan when the team’s score was 180 for the loss of six wickets.
Dickwella hit 34 from 37 balls with four fours.
Dilruwan Perera (9) was caught at the second slip by Soumya Sarkar off Mustafizur Rahman when the hosts’ score was 195 for the loss of seven wickets.
Later, Chandimal and Rangana Herath put on together 43 runs for the unbroken eight-wicket stand before the bails were drawn for the first day.
Rangana Herath remained unbeaten with 18.
Mustafizur Rahman and Mehedi Hasan Miraz bagged a pair of wickets each at the cost of 32 and 58 runs respectively.
Taijul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan and Subashis Roy took one wicket each for 34, 43 and 47 runs respectively.
