Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh will face daunting task as they scored 115 for the loss of six wickets on the Day 3 of the second Test match against Sri Lanka at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Friday. The Tigers trailed by 96 runs from Sri Lanka. They have only four wickets in hand.
Taijul Islam restored some parity for his country as he finished his superb spell as 42.5-4-131-5. Sri Lanka piled up 458 in their first innings on the third day.
Earlier, Bangladesh scored 247 in their first innings on the second day (Thursday). Sri Lanka resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 290 for the loss of two wickets.
Pathum Nissanka and Prabath Jayasuriya resumed their first innings with the over-night score 146 and five runs respectively.
Taijul Islam struck as Nissanka (158) was caught at the short cover by Anamul Haque off left-arm spinner when Sri Lanka’s score was 305 for the loss of three wickets. After Nissanka’s dismissal, Dhananjaya de Siva arrived at the crease but he could stay at the pitch for a short period as he (7) was trapped leg before wicket by Taijul Islam when the hosts’ total was 313 for the loss of four wickets.
Promising right-arm speedster Nahid Rana hit as Prabath Jayasuriya (10) was caught at the third slip by Mehidy Hasan Miraz off speedster when the Islanders’ score was 335 for the loss of five wickets.
Then, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis built a remarkable partnership contributing together 49 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Kamindu Mendis (33) was bowled out by right-arm spinner Nayeem Hasan when Sri Lanka’s total was 384 for the loss of six wickets.
Nayeem Hasan struck as Sonal Dinusha (11) was bowled out by the right-arm spinner when the home side’s score was 406 for the loss of seven wickets.
Taijul hit again as Tharindu Rathnayake (10) was caught at the long-on by Anamul Haque off left-arm spinner when Sri Lanka’s total was 429 for the loss of eight wickets.
Kusal Mendis was run out by a joint-effort of Ebadot Hossain and wicketkeeper Litton Das when the hosts’ score was 458 for the loss of nine wickets.
Kusal Mendis notched up a fine 84. His 87-ball innings was belted with eight fours and two sixes. It was Kusal’s 22nd half-century in Test cricket.
After Kusal’s dismissal, Taijul hit as Asitha Fernando (0) was caught at the mid-on by Shadman Islam off left-arm spinner when Sri Lanka’s innings came to an end. Nayeem Hasan grabbed three wickets in the space of 87 runs.
Bangladesh failed to make any notable partnership on the third day.
Besides, the top-order batters failed to resist Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Shadman Islam,Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were out for 12, 19, 15, 19, 26 and 11 runs respectively.
Litton Das remained unbeaten with 13 runs before the bails were drawn for the third day (Friday).
Dhananjaya de Silva and Prabath Jayasuriya bagged two wickets each giving 13 and 47 runs respectively.
Tharindu Rathnayake and Asitha Fernando took one wicket each for 10 and 22 runs respectively.
