Sri Lanka took a firm grip on the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground on Wednesday, reducing the visitors to a precarious 220 for 8 at stumps on a rain-affected opening day. Despite Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto winning the toss and opting to bat first, it was the home side who dictated terms, showcasing disciplined bowling across both sessions.
The early exchanges saw Bangladesh's top order crumble under pressure. Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy's woes continued as he registered yet another duck, surviving a mere 10 deliveries before being clean bowled by a sharp inswinger from Asitha Fernando. Bijoy, who struggled for scores of 0 and 4 in Galle and a modest 39 in his return Test against Zimbabwe, appeared entirely out of depth against the moving ball. Mominul Haque also failed to capitalise on a promising start, departing for 21 after needlessly hitting the first ball of Dhananjaya de Silva's spell straight to cover.
At lunch, Bangladesh were 71 for 2, with Shadman Islam looking assured on 40-odd, accompanied by captain Shanto. However, the interval offered little respite for the Tigers. The post-lunch session saw a swift collapse, with Shanto – the hero of Galle with twin centuries – edging left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando behind for a paltry 8. In the very next over, Shadman, on a well-made 46, perished at short slip off Tharindu Rathnayake, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 76 for 4 in a flash.
A heavy downpour then halted play, offering a reprieve. But upon resumption, the pressure intensified. Debutant Sonal Dinusha made an immediate impact, claiming his maiden Test wicket as Litton Das (34), after a chancy knock and a dropped catch the previous over, edged behind to Kusal Mendis. This dismissal ended a battling 67-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim, who continued to anchor the innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz joined Mushfiqur, taking Bangladesh to 144 for 5 at tea, but the wickets continued to tumble through the evening session.
Sri Lanka's bowlers were relentless. Aside from Dinusha's impressive debut, Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando both bagged two wickets apiece, maintaining tight lines and exploiting any assistance from the surface. While the Islanders did let a few chances slip, their overall performance was commendable.
With only 71 overs possible on the day due to the rain, play is set to resume with an early start at 10:15 AM Bangladesh time on Thursday. Bangladesh will need a monumental effort from their tailenders and an exceptional performance with the ball on Day Two to claw their way back into this crucial contest, which looks firmly in Sri Lanka's favour after the opening exchanges.
