Sabbir Hossain :
Bangladesh conceded an innings and 248-run defeat when the hosts were bundled out for a paltry 250 in the second innings against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh scored only 232 in the first innings on the first day (Monday).
In reply, Sri Lanka declared their first innings making a massive 730 runs for the loss of six wickets on the third day (Wednesday).
Bangladesh were at the stumps with 35 for the loss of one wicket.
Marshall Ayub and Shamsur Rahman resumed their second innings on the fourth day with the overnight score of 11 and nine runs respectively.
But the home side faced disaster when they lost their early three wickets for 50 runs.
Then, Mominul Haque and Shakib Al Hasan fought back adding 52 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Shakib Al Hasan was trapped leg before wicket by Dilruwan Perera when the teams total was 102 for the loss of four wickets.
Promising Mominul Haque restored some parity hitting an 50 from 57 balls amid eight boundaries. He was also trapped leg before wicket by Perera, though it was a controversial decision of the umpire.
Later, Al-Amin Hossain and Rubel Hossain entertained the spectators making a notable 53-run partnership in the 10th wicket stand before Rubel Hossain was caught by Kaushal Silva off Perera when Bangladesh’s second innings came to an end.
Al-Amin Hossain remained unbeaten with 32 off 18 balls featuring four sixes and one four.
Dilruwan Perera, the off spinner of Sri Lanka played the key role in wrecking Bangladesh’s second innings and finished his superb spell as 19.5-0-109-5.Suranga Lakmal, the medium pacer of the tourists gave him a good support grabbing three wickets at the cost of 39 runs.
Besides, Shaminda Eranga and Rangana Herath took one wicket each.
Mehela Jayawardene was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding undefeated 203.
Bangladesh will meet Sri Lanka in the second Test, which begins on February 4 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
