Bangladesh bowlers have succeeded to put pressure over Sri Lanka after they made a strong start to their reply to Bangladesh's 541 runs. The hosts posted 229 in their first innings for three wickets at the end of the third day of the first Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy Friday. The hosts are still trailing by 312 runs.
Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and another opener Lahiru Thirimanne had a flying start after the dominating Tiger’s first innings display. Thirimanne brought up his 10th fifty with eight fours.
The last ball before Tea, Mehidy Hasan Miraz gave Bangladesh a needed breakthrough as he trapped Thirimanne in leg before wicket, which was reviewed by the batsman but didn’t get the result in favor. He returned for 58 runs.
Karunaratne made a 43-runs partnership with Oshada Fernando (20), who was caught behind down the leg side by Liton Das from Taskin Ahmed’s strict bowling.
Veteran Angelo Mathews then came to the crease to accompany the skipper but also failed to stay long as Taijul Islam cleaned him up for 25 runs.
Karunaratne is unbeaten on 85, while Dhananjaya De Silva is batting on 26 at closing on day three.
Earlier, about 30 overs were lost on the last afternoon of the second day of the Pallekele Test due to lack of light. As a result, the third day's play started well ahead of schedule.
Based on Nazmul Hossain Shantar's 163, Mominul Haque's 127 and Tamim Iqbal's 90, Bangladesh finished the second day with 474 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 43 and Liton Das on 25. From the beginning of the third day, two unbeaten batsmen Mushfiqur and Liton started playing with open arms as they both got fifty.
Mushfiqur was the fourth batsman in the first innings against Sri Lanka in the Kandy Test who got fifty. The former captain celebrated his 23rd half-century off 120 balls on the third day's play. After the owner of three double centuries’ fifty, the team reached 500 runs. Bangladesh made 500 runs 11th times in the history of Tests with this innings.
After Mushfiqur, Liton scored the eighth half century of his career in the first session of the third day. He hit 5 fours and 1 six in 66 balls to score the half-century. But in the next ball, Oshada Fernando caught his catch at gully as Vishwa Fernando got the wicket. That broke down Liton's partnership with Mushfiqur of 87 runs.
Then Mehidy Hasan Miraz came to accompany Mushfiqur. Miraz (13) also got out after playing a shot outside the off-stump for the third time even though he survived due to two reviews before. Taijul Islam (2) also sent off promptly by the Lankan bowler SurangaLakmal.
This is the sixth highest score of Bangladesh in the history of Tests. And the second highest against Sri Lanka. This was moreover his third century against Sri Lanka in last five innings.
