Sports Reporter :
Sri Lanka scored 258 for the loss of four wickets against Bangladesh on day 1 of the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday.
Oshada Fernando and Duimuth Karunaratne made a modest start as they put on together 23 runs in the opening stand after electing to bat first. Karunaratne was trapped leg before wicket by Nayeem Hasan for just nine runs.
After Karunaratne’s dismissal, Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis repaired the damage adding together 43 runs for the second wicket partnership before Oshada Fernando was caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das off Nayeem Hasan when the islanders’ total was 66 for the loss of two wickets.
Oshada Fernando made 36 from 76 deliveries featuring three fours and a sixer.
After Fernando’s dismissal, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews mended their innings contributing together 92 runs for the third wicket partnership before Kusal Mendis was caught at the midwicket by Nayeem Hasan off Taijul Islam when the tourists’ score was 158 for the loss of three wickets.
Kusal Mendis notched up a sedate 54. His 131-ball innings saw three fours.
It was Kusal’s 13th Test half-century.
After Kusal’s departure, Dhananjaya de Silva arrived at the crease but he could stay at the pitch for a short period as he ( 6) was caught at the slip by Mahmudul Hasan Joy off Shakib Al Hasan when Sri Lanka’s total was 183 for the loss of four wickets.
After Dhananjaya’s dismissal, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal put on together 75 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership before the two umpires pocketed the bails for the first day.
Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten with 114. His 213-ball knock had 14 fours and a sixer. It was Angelo’s 12th Test century.
Dinesh Chandimal remained unbeaten with 34. He hit two sixes in his 77-ball knock.
Nayeem Hasan was the day’s most successful bowler. He captured two wickets at the cost of 71 runs.
Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam took one wicket each instead of 27 and 73 runs respectively.
