Sri Lanka will be happy if they can dismiss Bangladesh for under 500 runs, and in order to do so, the visitors will have to make early inroads on the second day of the first Test in Chittagong.
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Bangladesh are firmly placed at 374 for 4, at stumps on the opening day, but the last two wickets gave Sri Lanka hope that if they can get a couple of early wickets on second morning, they’ll be left with only the tail.
Wayward Sri Lanka concede 374 on day 1
A bowling performance by Sri Lanka that left much to be desired enabled the hosts Bangladesh to rack up
“I think the last two wickets were big,” said Sri Lanka batting coach Thilan Samaraweeera. “We have to put more pressure on Bangladesh in the first session tomorrow, and keep them under 500. I think that’ll be a good effort,” he added.
Samaraweera stated that their bowlers were simply out of sorts at different junctures of the game that helped the hosts eke out runs at will. “We should have bowled better than that. It is 40 runs too many on our part. We will see how we do from now,” he said. “It looks like a good batting pitch but once we bat in the second innings we will know how flat this pitch is.”
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Samaraweera added that he expected the wicket to behave the same way till the third day before it starts assisting the spinners. “It is hard to say because this is the first day. I feel till day three this is a good pitch. It will turn but slowly from then on. First half is crucial tomorrow. We have to build pressure. We have given away 30-40 runs more today,” he concluded.
