ZCZC
BSP-15
CRICKET- BD-SL-TEST-DAY-2
Bangladesh tightens grip on Test against Sri Lanka
DHAKA, April 22, 2021 (BSS)—Bangladesh took the firm control of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka, thanks to an excellent effort from youngster Nazmul Hossain Shanto and captain Mominul Haque at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Before the bad light stopped the day two’s game, Bangladesh reached 474-4, keeping Sri Lanka at bay.
Mushfiqur Rahim was batting on 43 with Liton Das on 25, sharing 50-run between them for an undefeated fifth wicket stand.
While Mushfiqur and Liton kept the flow to keep the side unscathed, it was Shanto and Mominul, who made sure Bangladesh would dominate the hosts for the second consecutive day.
They were key in giving Bangladesh the utter control in the match, sharing a record 242-run for the third wicket stand.
While Mominul Haque made the day a memorable one by hitting his first century in overseas country, eight years after his debut, Shanto’s masterly knock ended on 163 after he began the day with 126.
Resuming the day on 302-2, Shanto and Mominul started cautiously in a bid to keep the hard-earned position intact. Shanto reached his 150 with an outside-edged four, making him the second Bangladeshi batsman after Mominul Haque to convert his first hundred to 150.
Mominul converted his first century to 181 against New Zealand in 2013.
Shortly before that Mominul brought up his 11th and first overseas century. And he had done it in style. As off-spinner Dananjaya de Silva gave some width, Mominul confidently cut it wide of the backward point fielder for his ninth four, which brought up his century off 224 balls.
However soon after the lunch session, Lahiru Kumara brought the side back in contention, breaking the stubborn partnership as he baffled Shanto with a slower delivery. Shanto by then struck 163 off 378, hitting 17 fours and one six.
Mominul also couldn’t last long too after the departure of Shanto as he was undone by a flighted delivery of Dananjay de Silva, and his knock ended on 127 off 304, which included 11 fours.
Mushfiqur showed much patience to value his wicket even though the wicket remained conducive to batting. But probably he didn’t want the wickets to tumble at regular intervals after a big partnership as it has been the case of Tigers more often.
As Mominul was dismissed, Liton Das joined him and injected the urgency to rotate the scoreboard rapidly.
With the contrasting approach serving the team well, Bangladesh closed in on 500 rapidly after the Tea session. But the bad light brought an end to the day, much to the despair of the Bangladesh team.
Vishwa Fernando had figures of 2-75 while Kumara and de
Silva picked up one wicket apiece so far.
BSS/SMP/AU/19:25 hrs