Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team lost to Sri Lanka Cricket team by 328 runs in the first Test match on the fourth day at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Put into bat first, Sri Lanka made a satisfactory 280 runs in the first innings on the first day (Friday).
In reply, the hosts scored 188 in the first innings on the second day (Saturday).
Later, the tourists piled up a mammoth total of 418 in the second innings on the third day (Sunday).
Bangladesh scored 182 in the second innings on the fourth day (Monday).
Bangladesh resumed their second innings with the over-night score of 47 for the loss of five wickets.
Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam resumed their second innings with the over-night score of seven and six runs respectively.
Mominul Haque restored some parity for his country.
Mominul fought back hitting a painstaking 87 (not out). He hit 12 fours and a sixer in his 148-ball innings.
Mominul Haque reached his fifty-run landmark using 94 balls with six fours.
Taijul Islam failed to add any run on the fourth day as he was trapped leg before wicket by Kasun Rajitha when the Tigers’ total was 51 for the loss of six wickets.
After Taijul’s dismissal, Mominul Haque and sixth-down Mehidy Hasan Miraz built a remarkable partnership contributing together 66 runs in the seventh wicket stand before Miraz was caught at the second slip by Dhananjaya de Silva off Rajitha when Bangladesh’s score was 117 for the loss of seven wickets.
Miraz made 33 from 50 deliveries featuring six fours.
After Miraz’s departure, Mominul Haque and Shoriful Islam put on together 47 runs in the eighth wicket partnership before Shoriful Islam (12) was caught & bowled by Kusan Rajitha when the Tigers’ total was 164 for the loss of eight wickets.
After Shoriful’s departure, Khaled Ahmed (0) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off Rajitha when the hosts’ score was 164 for the loss of nine wickets.
After Khaled’s dismissal, Nahid Rana (0) was caught at the second slip by Dhananjaya de Silva off Lahiru Kumara when Bangladesh’s second innings came to an end.
Kasun Rajitha bowled extremely well as he finished his superb spell as 14-1-56-5.
Dhananjaya De Silva notched up a marvellous 102 in the first innings and hit a terrific 108 in the second innings.
He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Bangladesh Cricket team will face Sri Lanka Cricket team in the last and final Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from March 30 to April 3.
