Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team will face daunting task as they lost their early five wickets for 47 runs on the third day against Sri Lanka Cricket team in their first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Bangladesh need 464 runs to win with five wickets in their hand.
Bangladesh had a sorrow start as opener Mahmudul Hasan (0) was trapped leg before wicket by Vishwa Fernando when the hosts failed to open their account.
One-down Najmul Hossain Shanto (6) was caught at the first slip by Dimuth Karunaratne off Kusan Rajitha when Bangladesh’s score was nine for the loss of two wickets.
Opener Zakir Hasan (19) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off Lahiru Kumara when the Tigers’ total was 37 for the loss of three wickets.
Third-down Shahadat Hossain Dipu (0) was caught behind by Kusal Mendis off Vishwa Fernando when Bangladesh’s score was 37 for the loss of four wickets.
Fourth-down Litton Das (0) was caught by Angelo Mathews off Vishwa Fernando when the home side’s total was 37 for the loss of five wickets.
Mominul Haque was on seven and Taijul Islam was on six before the umpires drew the bails for the third day.
Vishwa Fernando grabbed three wickets in the space of 13 runs, while Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha took one wicket each for six and 19 runs respectively.
Sent into bat first, Sri Lanka made a fighting total of 280 runs in the first innings on the first day (Friday).
In reply, Bangladesh scored 188 runs in the first innings on the second day (Saturday).
Sri Lanka piled up a mammoth total of 418 in the second innings on the third day (Sunday).
Sri Lanka resumed their second innings with the over-night score of 119 for the loss of five wickets.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Vishwa Fernando resumed their second innings with the over-night score of 23 and two runs respectively.
Pacer Khaled Ahmed gave his team early breakthrough as Vishwa Fernando (4) was caught at the fourth slip by Mehidy Hasan Miraz off promising pacer when the Islanders’ total was 126 for the loss of six wickets.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis rescued their team from debacle adding together 173 runs for the seventh wicket partnership before Dhananjaya was caught at the short midwicket by Zakir Hasan off Mehidy Hasan Miraz when the tourists’ score was 299 for the loss of seven wickets.
Kamindu Mendis was the day’s highest scorer with 164 runs. His 237-ball innings was laced with 16 fours and six sixers.
Dhananjaya hit a marvelous 108. He hit nine fours and two sixes in his 179-ball knock.
Miraz was the day’s most successful bowler with four wickets in the space of 74 runs.