Sports Reporter :
Sri Lanka fought back making 512 for the loss of three wickets in their first innings against Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Earlier, Bangladesh declared their first innings scoring 541 for the loss of seven wickets on the third day (Friday).
The hosts trailed by just 29 runs from the tourists.
Najmul Hossain Shanto of Bangladesh top-scored with 163, while Mominul Haque played a captain’s knock of 127. Dashing opener Tamim Iqbal was deprived of a century for just 10 runs. He hit a superb 90. Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten with 68, while Liton Das struck exact 50.
Vishwa Fernando captured four wickets in the space of 96 runs.
Sri Lanka resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 229 for the loss of three wickets.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 85 and 26 runs respectively.
Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva put on together 322 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket partnership before the bails were drawn for the fourth day.
Karunaratne remained unbeaten with 234. His 419-ball patient innings was laced with 25 fours. It was the Sri Lankan skipper’s maiden double century in Test cricket. The Captain of Sri Lanka team reached his 200-run landmark playing 387 deliveries including 21 fours.
Dhananjaya de Silva remained unbeaten with 154. His 278-ball calm innings was studded with 20 fours. It was his seventh Test century. He fulfilled his hundred-run landmark using 153 balls including 14 fours.
Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque used seven bowlers ( including himself) to break the Karunaratne-Dhananjaya duo but they failed to do that.
It may be mentioned that the tourists dominated almost first two and half days but the home side dominated rest of the day’s play.
