Sri Lanka’s bowlers produced an improved performance on Day 1 of the 2nd Test against Bangladesh on Wednesday, taking the upper hand at the SSC Grounds in Colombo.
Only 71 overs were possible due to a midday rain interruption, with the visitors reaching 220 for 8 at stumps. The two changes made by the hosts for this game — Vishwa Fernando and debutant Sonal Dinusha — were the most impressive among the Lankan bowlers along with Asitha Fernando.
Sri Lanka’s seamers began the day well, bowling tight lines and lengths. Anamul Haque’s torrid run in the series continued as he chopped on to the stumps off Asitha Fernando in the fifth over of the match.
Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque then started to build a strong partnership and tried to put pressure back on the spinners. Skipper Dhananjaya De Silva brought himself into the attack and struck immediately, with Mominul giving catching practice to extra cover to end his 39-ball stay at the crease.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, fresh from twin tons in Galle, looked fluent as he and Shadman Islam took Bangladesh to 71 for 2 at lunch.
Sri Lanka struck gold after lunch when Vishwa Fernando got one to nip away from Shanto, his consistency rewarded with the prized wicket.
Shadman Islam, who was in fine form, managed the Sri Lankan bowlers well and struck seven boundaries. However, he chased a delivery well outside off stump from ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake and edged to first slip, ending his knock of 46.
Bangladesh were reduced to 76 for 4, as the experienced duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das began rebuilding the innings. Both batsmen offered chances, but the Sri Lankan fielders failed to capitalize, spilling opportunities on either side of a rain break. Play was halted for nearly 90 minutes due to rain.
Debutant Sonal Dinusha was introduced into the attack only after 45 overs. He kept things tidy from one end with his left-arm spin. His maiden wicket came when he dismissed Litton Das for 34, ending a stubborn 67-run fifth wicket stand. Kusal Mendis juggled the ball three times before holding on to the edge.
Rahim became Dinusha’s second wicket when he holed out to the deep, with Vishwa Fernando taking a crucial catch. Bangladesh were restricted to 160 for 6, putting Sri Lanka firmly in the driver’s seat.
Late in the evening, Vishwa Fernando, coming around the wicket, used the angle well to end Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s innings, which had yielded a crucial 31 runs. Asitha Fernando then removed Nayeem Hasan for 25 in the penultimate over of the day with a superb delivery that castled the right-hander, further cementing the hosts’ advantage.
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Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. Both teams made two changes to their lineups from the Galle Test. Sonal Dinusha debuted in place of the retired Angelo Mathews, while Vishwa Fernando replaced the injured Milan Rathnayake. The visitors brought in Mehidy Hasan Miraz for Jaker Ali, and Ebadot Hossain came in for the injured Hasan Mahmud.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh – 220/8 (71) Shadman Islam 46, Mushfiqur Rahim 35, Litton Das 34, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 31, Nayeem Hasan 25, Asitha Fernando 2/43, Vishwa Fernando 2/35, Sonal Dinusha 2/22.
