Bangladesh VS Sri Lanka Test Series
2nd Test Played at SBNCS Dhaka
Brief Score Card
Bangladesh 365 All Out in 116.2 Overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 175*, Litton K Das 141, Kasun Rajitha 5/64, Asitha Fernando 4/93 )
Bangladesh 2nd Innings 169 All Out in 55.3 Overs. (Shakib Al Hasan 58, Litton K Das 52, Mahmudul Hasan Joy 15, Mushfiqur Rahim 23 ), Asitha Fernando 6/51 ,Kasun Rajitha 2/40
Sri Lanka 506 as ll Out In 165.1 Over in 97 Overs (Angelo Mathews 145*, Dinesh Chandimal 124. Dimuth Karunaratne 80, Dhananjaya de Silva 58, Oshada Fernando 57, Shakib Al Hasan 5/96, Ebadat Hossain 4/148)
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings 29/0 in 3 Overs (Oshda Fernando 21*, Dimuth Karuna Ratne 7)
Sri Lanka won the Test by 10 wickets
Sri Lanka won the Series 1-0
Player of the Match: Asitha Fernando (4/93 and 6/51)
Player of the Series Angelo Mathews (199 and 145* in 2 tests)
Lankan Lions humiliated Bengal Tigers at Tigers Sanctuary Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Visitors whipping a 10 wickets win wrapped up yet another test series against pathetic looking Bangladesh. Like the first innings of Bangladesh losing 24/5 in 7 overs, Bangladesh kept consistency losing 23/4 at the top and 13/5 at the end getting a slender overall lead of 28.
Lankans whistled past in just 3 overs. This was a terribly poor batting performance. If Litton and Mushfiq in the first innings and Litton again and Shakib in the second did not set up brave resistance the match would not have seen any contest at all.
The pathetic performance of Bangladesh amply demonstrates that the Bangladesh cricket system is still not ready for quality longer version cricket. Our players lose focus completely in 5 days matches when it turns a little competitive. Of the 11 players other than Shakib, Mushfiq, Litton and maybe Taijul and Ebadat none in the present form would find a place in the playing XI of a test playing country. What can be the explanations of the home team batters for crumbling twice on a wicket where Sri Lankans scored 506 in the first innings. The wicket had no demon. It was a lack of skill, application, temperament and attitude. Bangladesh test team is sinking.
Present BCB does not appear to have intellectual capabilities for turning around. 23 years have gone by since great Cricket Icon Sir Gordon Greenidge told blatantly that Bangladesh was not ready for test cricket. He was sacked for his right comments. One must ask “Is Bangladesh ready for playing competitive test cricket now?
The fate of the test and the series was written all over the place by stumps on day four. Bangladesh was tottering at 33/4 after conceding 141 first-innings lead. There were some hopes that Mushfiq and Liton would rescue again. Mushfiq left early. Liton and Shakib holding the fort rallied around for a while. At least their efforts saved the innings defeat.
Once Litton got out scoring 52 Bangladesh collapsed yet again losing the last 5 wickets for 13 runs. In South Africa spinners destroyed Bangladesh batting in two tests at SBNCS it was less experienced Lankan pacers tormenting tigers.
Bangladesh so far played 24 tests against Sri Lanka lost 18 and won one only. Still, Mushfiq, Litton, Shakib with the bat, Shakib and Ebadat with the ball did their job admirably. Shakib added a new feather to his crown taking 5 wickets and scoring 50 in the test. His 150 wickets haul at home is also a new milestone.
Team management and BCB officials talked like toothless tigers to the media. This team in the present shape would be in serious trouble in difficult Caribbean Tour next month.
Sri Lankans deserve unqualified appreciation. They saved Chottogram test from a difficult situation and virtually outplayed hosts at Dhaka in all three departments. The series win must be a precious gift for the struggling people of Sri Lanka. Well-done mates.
BDST: 1510 HRS, May 27 2022
MSK
