Tigers squander the chance to control Sri Lanka on day 1

Bangladesh squandered a golden chance to take the control of the first cricket Test on opening day due to traditional batting frailties which saw them losing three wickets at the fag end of the day despite bowling out Sri Lanka cheaply at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

At stumps, Bangladesh reached 32-3 after bowling Sri Lanka out for 280 in its first innings. The score line may give an impression for an even day but realistically, Sri Lanka are on top at this moment, specially after taking two crucial wickets of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque, who is the side’s most experienced batter in absence of Mushfiqur Rahim.

Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy was batting on 9 with nightwatchman Taijul Islam yet to score, reports BSS.

Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis earlier hit centuries to help Sri Lanka recover from an early trouble.

Both de Silva and Kamindu who hit his maiden century in his just second test scored 102, steering Sri Lanka to 280 all out after being reduced to 57-5.

Bangladesh fast bowlers Syed Khaled Ahmed and Nahid Rana, who made his debut, claimed three wickets to give Bangladesh an early edge on 13-wicket day.

Khaled (3-72) ripped through the top order before Rana, whose 3-87, included the wicket of centurion de Silva and Kamindu caused a middle order havoc, denying Sri Lanka take the score past 300.

Khaled struck in the second over after Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat.

He had Nishan Madushka caught by Mehidy Hasan at third slip with a fuller, swinging delivery.

Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne appeared to steady the innings, with Mendis reaching 4,000 career test runs when he hit pace bowler Shoriful Islam for a boundary through fine-leg.

But Khaled undid him soon after with extra bounce, with Mendis (16) pulling directly to gully where Zakir Hasan completed an easy catch.

Four balls later, Khaled bowled Karunarate for 17 with raw pace to leave Sri Lanka at 41-3 in 12th over.

The situation worsened for Sri Lanka when Angelo Mathews was run out for 5 and Shoriful Islam dismissed Dinesh Chandimal (9).

Kamindu and de Silva then denied Bangladesh a wicket in the whole second session and combined for a 202-run for the sixth wicket.

Kamindu raised his maiden century off 126 balls, driving Rana past backward point for a boundary as Sri Lanka appeared to take complete control.

However, in the next delivery, Rana broke through, making Kamindu his maiden test wicket when the batter edged a delivery that carried extra bounce, behind.

Kamindu’s knock included 11 fours and three sixes.

In the same over, de Silva completed his 12th century off 127 balls, when he flicked Rana for a boundary past square leg but Rana took the sweet revenge, dismissing him with short delivery in his next over.

Sri Lanka’s lower order could manage only 16 runs after de Silva’s dismissal.

But Bangladesh batters squandered the chance to establish its complete domination.

Pacer Vishwa Fernando, who ended with 2-9, dealt a double strike, dismissing Zakir Hasan (9) and Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (5) in his consecutive overs.

And when his new ball partner Kasun Rajitha (1-20) had Mominul Haque caught by Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka ensured they would put them on top.