Tamim Iqbal’s century as well as fifties from Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das helped Bangladesh make a strong response with the bat on day three of the 1st Test against Bangladesh at Chattogram.
Bangladesh opening pair Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudul Hasan Joy resumed Bangladesh’s first innings on day three at 76/0 and continued to pile on the runs, making the most of the good batting conditions offered at Chattogram.
The duo added 162 runs for the opening wicket before Joy was caught behind for 58 runs off the bowling of seamer Asitha Fernando. After the Lunch break, the Sri Lankan bowlers took control of the match, taking 3 wickets.
Kasun Rajitha, who came onto bowl as a concussion substitute for Vishwa Fernando, who was ruled out of the Test due to the blow he suffered yesterday on the back of the helmet, made an impact in his very first over of the match, dismissing Bangladesh number 3 batter Najmul Hossain Shanto for just 1 run.
Rajitha impressed once more with the ball, knocking over Bangladesh Skipper Mominul Haque for just 2 runs, pushing the hosts onto the backfoot at 184/3. However, the experienced duo of Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the Bangladesh innings as they reached 220/3 at Tea on day three.
Iqbal, who reached his 10th Test ton, remained unbeaten on 133 runs at Tea, but did not come out to bat after the break as he retired hurt, struggling with heat related issues. The wicket-keeper batter Litton Das paired with Rahim and built a solid unbeaten 97-run partnership for the 4th wicket, as Bangladesh finished day three at 318/3.
