Sabbir Hossain :
A superb century by Kaushal Silva powered Sri Lanka to pile up 375 for the loss of five wickets in the first innings on the second day of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.
Earlier, Bangladesh scored 232 in the first innings on the first day (Monday).
Sri Lanka have now 143-run lead in the first innings.
Kaushal Silva knocked a patient 139 from 244 balls. His 395-minute steady innings was ornamented with 16 boundaries and two over boundaries.
Openers Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne resumed the first innings on the second day with the over-night score of 60 for the loss of none.
The two openers of Sri Lanka made a solid foundation adding together 118 runs in the opening stand before Karunaratne was caught at the silly mid-off by Robiul Islam off left-arm pinner Shakib Al Hasan when the tourists score was 118 for the loss of one wicket.
After departure of Karunaratne, experienced Kumar Sangakkara came at the crease and then, Sangakkara and Kaushal Silva put on together 155 runs for the second wicket partnership before Sangakkara was caught at the first slip by Nasir Hossain off medium pacer Al-Amin Hossain when the islanders’ total was 273 for the loss of two wickets.
Sangakkara made the day’s second highest score of 75. His 182-ball knock was laced with nine fours.
Shakib Al Hasan removed the most valuable wicket of Sri Lanka when Kaushal Silva was trapped leg before wicket by Hasan when the touring sides total was 302 for the loss of three wickets.
Then, Mahela Jayawardene and Dinesh Chandimal added 72 runs in the four-wicket stand before Dinesh Chandimal was cleanly bowled out by Shakib Al Hasan when Sri Lanka’s score was 374 for the loss of four wickets. Promising spinner Shohag Gazi got success in the day’s last ball when Suranga Lakmal was caught at the first slip by Nasir Hossain. Opener Karunaratne notched up a marvelous 53 from 113 balls featuring six fours while Dinesh Chandimal hit a fine 40 off 51 balls with two boundaries and two sixes. Mahela Jayawardene remained unbeaten with 42.
Shakib Al Hasan claimed three wickets instead of 94 runs, while Shohag Gazi and Al-Amin took one wicket apiece.
