Sri Lanka pile up 291/1 on 1st day

Sports Reporter :
Sri Lanka piled up a satisfactory 291 for the loss of one wicket in the first innings against Bangladesh on the first day of the second Test of the ICC Test Championship at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka on Thursday.
After winning the coin-session, openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne made a solid foundation adding together 209 runs in the opening stand before Karunaratne was caught behind by wicketkeeper Liton Das off debutante left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam.
Karunaratne, the Captain of Sri Lanka, made a marvelous 118. His 190-ball innings was decorated with 15 fours. The Sri Lankan Captain’s innings could be short-lived if Najmul Hossain Shanto could hold the catch of Karunaratne at the slip from a delivery of Taskin Ahmed when the Sri Lankan Captain was on 28.
It was Karunaratne’s back-to-back century. Earlier, Karunaratne notched up a terrific 244 in the first innings of the first Test at the same venue which concluded on April 25.
He fulfilled his 12th Test century using 165 deliveries with 13 fours. Karunaratne scored 5110 runs in his Test career.
After Karunaratne’s dismissal, Lahiru Thirimanne and Oshada Fernando repaired the damage contributing together 82 runs for the unbroken second wicket partnership before the bails were drawn for the first day.
Thirimanne remained unbeaten with 131. His 253-ball knock was studded with 14 fours. Lahiru reached his third Test century playing 212 balls including 11 boundaries. He scored 2052 runs in his Test career.
Oshada Fernando remained unbeaten with 40. His 98-ball polished innings saw four fours.
Debutante Shoriful Islam was the day’s only bowler who got success with the cherry. He took one wicket at the cost of 52 runs.