Bangladesh Sri Lanka Test Series
1st Test Played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium (ZACS)
Brief Score Card at Stumps Day One
Sri Lanka 1st Innings 258/4 (Angelo Mathews 114*, Kushal Mendis 54, Oshada Fernando 36, Dinesh Chandimal 34*, Naeem Hasan 2/71, Shakib Al Hasan 1/27, Taijul Islam 1/73)
On a surface which can not be termed a batting paradise Sri Lanka batting to their best of their abilities finished day one at a comfortable position at 258/4.
Experienced all rounder Angelo Mathews justified his return to the side scoring a polished unbeaten 114 and with him was experienced Dinesh Chandimal looking solid on 34* .The unbroken 5th wicket pair scoring 73 may take the visitors to a commanding position unless Bangladesh can grab few early wickets on day two. Any score above 400 would put Bangladesh in a difficult position as they would have to bat last. The horrors of second innings in two previous tests in South Africa are still alive.
We know how important the series is for either side. Sri Lanka needs to give some comfort to their struggling fans back home fighting against economic melt down through a political upheaval. Bangladesh desperately needs turning around after test debacles in South Africa.
Lot had been talked about the wicket and Bangladesh team composition. ZACs wicket has not changed character. Though it is a bit early drawing conclusion but it is not a surface where batsman can not score if they applies. Sri Lanka must be distinctly lucky winning the toss and making the first use of it. Finally Shakib was included and rightly so. Bangladesh also looked positive playing with six batsmen, four bowlers and Shakib. Sri Lanka on the other hand appeared with seven batsmen and four bowlers. Off course Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathhews bowl a s well.
Do not think Khaled and Shoriful bowled at right length and channel with new cherry on a greenish looking surface. However lanky off spinner Naeem returning to the team after a while put paid to the confidence on him grabbing the wickets of Karunaratke ((9) and Oshada Fernando (36) before lunch. Mominul held his tramp card Shakib back a bit too long and wasted DRS as his trademark. First session was shared evenly.
Solid batting of Kushal Mendis (54) and Angelo Mathews (114*) putting together 92 runs in the 3rd wicket partnership set a solid foundation of Sri Lanka innings. Despite bowling tight Bangladesh in the second session could not grab any wicket. However,Mendis gifted his wicket away trying to whack Taijul half tracker out of the ground the very first ball after tea. Bangladesh could gain further inroads had Joy grabbed a difficult chance of Mathews of the bowling of Taijul that gripped and bounced. Shakib bowling miserly as always removed Dhananjaya de Silva early. At 185/4 Sri Lankan innings was about to be lost the way. But two veterans Mathhews and Chandimal held it together battling out with unbroken 73 runs 5th wicket partnership. Mathews celebrated his return to the team with a polished unbeaten 114.
Wicket appeared to have flattened out. Bangladesh has to grab two three early wickets on day two .If Sri Lanka scores some how above 450 in the first innings they would grab control as Bangladesh has to bat last on the wicket. Bangladeshi batsmen may struggle against Lankan spin of day four or five wicket.
BDST: 2019 HRS, MAY 15, 2022
MSK
