Bangladesh turn the onus on home side getting ahead by 50+ runs with 6 wickets in hand leaving Sri Lanka with somewhat of a battle on their hands in the 3rd day of the second test at R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium today.
While Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal in a sterling performance carefully batted in long and painful on a very hot day yesterday, resuming today the home side managed to get up to 346 where the batting that centered around Sangakkara folded at his demise. Sohail Gazi was instrumental in removing the tail as Sri Lanka folded their 1st innings for 346.
Sangakkara scored a hardworking 139 in 289 balls with eleven fours escalating his all-time test batting average to 57.00 eclipsing or modern greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and Jacque Kallis whose 56.10 he stepped over. He was dismissed by Abdul Hassan caught behind by Musfiqur Rahim. Nuwan Kulasekara did his usual determined best in partnership with Sangakkara and Shaminda Eranga before being dismissed for 22 holding on for 75 balls. Rahim/Sohaz combination got the better of him. Eranga departed soon after ending the Sri Lankan innings.
Having scored 240 runs in the first innings Bangladesh opening batsmen did not seem to have difficulties with the wicket as they negotiated a sound opening partnership of 91 runs between Tamim Iqbal (59) and Jahural Islam to remove deficit in one go. Sri Lanka toiled during the partnership and finally Eranga bowled Iqbal out for a well made 48 and quickly after Mohamed Ashraful was bowled by Rangana Herath. However Jahural Islam and Mominul Haq established another partnership for 47 runs until Herath drew Islam forward to have wicket keeper Dinesh Chandimal stump him in a flash. Mahamadulla was bowled by Herath and skipper Rahim (7) and Haque (36) remained with the score at 158 for 4 to take the fight to Sri Lanka tomorrow.
By the end of the day Sri Lanka was left in a debatable position with the possibility of being beaten by their lesser neigbhour as if they do not rub off the Tiger’s tail early morning tomorrow and the visitors are allowed to score another 100 runs the going will be tough for the home team. Now Sri Lanka’s ace spinner Herath will be looked upon as the key man for the job.
The Bangladeshis fast bowlers seemed to have a yard more in pace and looked far more penetrative than the Sri Lankan bowlers, a prelude of things to come for the home side. Sri Lanka will be hard-pressed to go after a total of more than 150 runs unless the big guns take control.
Scores in Brief
Bangladesh 1st innings 240
Sri Lanka 1st innings 346
Bangladesh 2nd innings 158/4 in 69 overs (Tamil Iqbal 59, Jahurul Islam 48, Mohammed Ashrafaful 4, Mominul Haque 36*, Mushfiqur Rahim 7*, H.M.R.K.B. Herath 3/45, R.M.S Eranga 1/17 )
