Kaushal ton leads dominant day for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka held a lead of 143 runs at stumps on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, in a good position despite the loss of four wickets in the evening session.

The visitors were on 375 for five, losing a flurry of scalps late in the day after centurion Kaushal Silva took part in tow century stands, first with Dimuth Karunaratne (53) and then with Kumar Sangakkara (75).

Sri Lanka began the day on 60 for none, chasing parity of 232 after getting the Tigers all out on day one. Silva and Karunaratne were well set, and continued for most of the morning without complaint, until Karunaratne was out for 53.

He was Shakib-al-Hasan’s first wicket of the day, caught by Robiul Islam just before the lunch break, leaving Silva on 66 and Sangakkara on 11 at the interval. The duo proceeded to add a stand of 155 during the afternoon.

They reached tea still just one wicket down, as Silva recorded his maiden Test century off 199 balls, including 12 fours and a six. At tea, Sangakkara was on 60 and the home bowlers looked all out of ideas.

But the new ball proved the solution as Sanga was only able to add 15 more runs to his score in the evening session, before being removed by Al-Amin Hossain for 75. Silva made his way to 139 before becoming Shakib’s second wicket, trapped LBW.

This left veterans Mahela Jayawardene and Dinesh Chandimal to continue to build the lead, and they put on 72 for the fourth wicket. But two late strikes, first Chandimal for 40 and then nightwatchman Suranga Lakmal for a duck, buoyed the Tigers’ spirits.