The first Test of the two-match series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh commenced today (22nd March) at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
After winning the toss, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain invited the islanders to take the first lease of the wicket.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis(w), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Litton Das(w), Shahadat Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed
Karunaratne and Madushka opened the batting for Sri Lanka, but their stay at the crease lasted only 2 overs as the latter was caught at slips for just 2 runs.
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The seamer Khaled Ahmed then wiped out the experienced opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne and vice-captain Kusal Mendis in the same over to put the visitors onto backfoot at 41/3.
The skipper Shanto then showed some fielding brilliance to catch Mathews short of his crease. Shanto then set up a leg gully trap for Chandimal and had him caught there for 9 runs of the bowling off Shoriful Islam.
However, the skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis revived Sri Lanka’s innings with a brilliant partnership. De Silva and Mendis went onto score brilliant centuries and managed to stitch together a 202-run stand for the 6th wicket.
De Silva led from the front to score his 11th Test century while Mendis brought up his maiden century in Test cricket.
After reaching their milestones, the duo lost the concentration as they were dismissed by Nahid Rana in successive overs. Sri Lankan tail-enders couldn’t wag thus, they were bowled out for 280 runs.
In their turn with the ball, Sri Lanka started off brilliantly as left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando trapped Bangladesh opening batter Zakir Hasan for just 9 runs in the third over of the innings.
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Fernando then trapped Bangladesh skipper Shanto in his next over to push the hosts onto the backfoot at 17/2. The seamer Kasun Rajitha then nicked off Mominul Haque in the slip cordon as the visitors ended the day on a high at 32/3.
Spectators can catch all the action of the Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh LIVE on ThePapare TV (Dialog TV Ch No. 63), Dialog ViU app and ThePapare.com.
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