Bangladesh post 247 as Sri Lanka close out innings

Bangladesh have posted a scant 247 runs at Colombo as Sri Lanka wrapped up the first innings early on Thursday.

A late flurry from Taijul Islam (33) was not enough to fend off the hosts, who cleared out the tail end in the span of eight overs on Day 2.

Despite several dropped catches and other chances that went missing, Sri Lanka came out on top with the ball on the first day of the second Test, restricting the Tigers to 220-8.

Several Bangladeshi batsmen – Shadman Islam (46), Mushfiqur Rahim (35), Litton Das (34), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (31) – made respectable starts but were unable to capitalise on what was initially believed to be a batting-friendly pitch.

Instead, it was the bowlers who were in their element as Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, and debutant Sonal Dinusha each picked up a brace of wickets on the first day.

Pacer Asitha (3-51) added to his tally by picking off Ebadot Hossain in the early overs on Thursday while Dinusha (3-22) snapped up Taijul’s wicket to put a bow on a sparkling start to his Test career.

Brave performances from Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, veteran Mushfiqur, and off-spinner Nayeem Hasan had given Bangladesh an edge in the first Test in Galle, but the two sides ended up battling to a draw.

Bangladesh won the toss on Wednesday and chose to bat.

If they win the match, it will be their first Test series victory in Sri Lanka.

Shanto – who scored tons in both innings in Galle – will be satisfied that Bangladesh’s World Test Championship campaign kicked off on a respectable note.

Source: bdnews24.com
--Agencies