DHAKA: Rocket Test Series.
Ist Test Bangladesh Vs Sri Lanka Played at Jahur Ahmed ChowdhuryStadium , Chittagong.
Brief Score Card at Stumps of Day Two:Bangladesh 513 All Out ( MominulHaq 176 , Mushfiqur Rahim 92 , MahmudullahRiad 83* , TamimIqbal 52 , Lakmal 3/68 , Herath 3/150 ) Sri Lanka 187/1 ( DM de Silva 104* and Mendis 83* )
Tigers and Lions are almost on level play play ground at stumps on day two of the first test Rocket test series . The signs of life gripping and turning that appeared on the wicket were rolled out .Sri Lankan batsmen looked rock solid responding to mammoth total 513 that Bangladesh posted . At stumps Lankans were 187/1 .Karunaratne lost his wicket before him and the team opened the score . MehediMiraj picked him From then on DS de Silva and Mendis played superbly putting together an unbroken 187 runs second wicket partnership. De Silva remained unbeaten on 104 ,Mendis was batting on 83 . If the character of the wicket remains the same Sri Lanka is set for a high score in the first innings . The first session of day three would indicate which direction the test would be heading.
The day started with amaingMominul batting on 175 and his captain Mahmudullah on 9. But great spinner Hearth toiling on day one on unresponsive wicket struck the vital early blow removing Mominulafter little bird could score one run only. From then on it was grinding and grafting only by another top quality batsman Mahmudullah. He was given admirable support by lower middle order MehediMiraj ,debutantSanzamamul and even Mustafiz. Lakmal and Herath bowled exceptionally well at this stage .Miraj and Mahmudullah added 45 runs on 6th wicket and Sanzamamul with Mahmudullah added 58 for the eighth. Mahmuduallh was looking solid for his second century. But he was running out of partners . A changed Mustafiz even stayed with him ………runs last wicket partnership. Bangladesh could reach 513. Mahmudullah was stranded at 83 not out .Lakmal 3/68 and Herath 3/150 were the main architect for Bangladesh not reaching high sky. Anyway 513 in the first innings of any test is not a mean score.
Wicket had little for either pacer or spinner on day one .But on the second day at the last stage of Bangladesh innings Herath and Sandakan found the wicket gripping and turning mainly from footholds of the bowlers outside the off stump of the batsmen. Even then Mahmudullah and late middle order batsmen Miraj and Sanzamamul batted exceptionally well taking the score beyond 500 .
But those little irritations and cracks were rolled out before Sri Lankan came to bat and it behaved like a batting paradise where not much experienced Bangladeshi bowlers found nothing .Mehedi could squeeze out Karunaratnewith great delivery before Sri Lankan innings could even take off . But from then on Mendisand DS de Silva Batted with concentration and guts. 187 runs unbroken second wicket partnership has already laid solid foundation in pursuit of 513. DS de Silva already reached century 104 to be exact. Mendis remained unbeaten on 83 . Sri Lanka is still 326 runs behind with 9 wickets in tact . It remains to be seen how wicket behaves on day three. There is possibility that sun may bake the wicket and batting from the afternoon of day three may not be as easy as has been seen so far . Tasks for Bangladeshi bowlers is well cut out .They have keep probing and wait for lack of concentration of the Lankans . Otherwise this match would be heading for a tame draw . However, circumstance may alter case at Lunch on day three is Bangladesh can grab 3-4 wickets.
BDST: 1040HRS, FEB 02, 2017
EHJ
