Sri Lanka reach 83-0 at tea after Tigers dismissed for 365

Sports Desk: Dhaka, May-24,

Sri Lanka openers made a resolute start to reach 84-0 at tea after Bangladesh was shot out for 365 in its first innings in the second and final Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Opener Oshada Fernando brought up his fifty, batting with positive intent, and remained not out on 52 with captain Dimuth Karunaratne on 31 at the second interval of the day as Sri Lanka was trailing by 281 runs.

Oshawa survived twice, when on 4, as he reviewed one successfully in the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings to overturn the umpire’s decision.

Then on 39, a Bangladesh review failed to fetch any successful result when Taijul Islam beat him on the outside edge. It looked plumb.

Soon after he brought up his fifth half-century off 74 balls, charging Shakib Al Hasan down the wicket for a six over the long-on region.

Dimuth Karunaratne however smoothly accumulated runs when Fernando took Bangladesh attack in disdain.

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim was stranded at 175 as he lacked a partner to complete his fourth double century.

Liton Das hit his career-best 141 to complement Mushfiqur’s effort.
Mushfiqur who showed an unwavering resolve smote 21 boundaries for his 175 not out which came from 355 balls. He stayed in the crease for 526 minutes, which is his second-longest knock in terms of times.

By hitting this superb knock, he had already passed 150 plus for the fifth time, the highest amongst the Bangladeshi batters.

Out of his nine centuries, five now were 150 plus, proving his knack to play big knock when he crossed the century.

Having done so, Mushfiqur also became the first Bangladeshi batter to score 3000 runs on home soil.

Sri Lanka pacers Kasun Rajitha (5-64) and Asitha Fernando (4-93) claimed nine wickets out of 10 with both of them registering their career-best figures.

Rajitha struck in the eighth over of the day, dismissing Liton Das after Bangladesh resumed at 277-5. Liton poked a length delivery to edge behind the wicket to be out on 141 off 246 which included 16 fours and one six.

He could add just six runs to his overnight total and his dismissal brought an end to the 272-runs partnership, which is the highest for Bangladesh in the sixth-wicket stand.

Liton and Mushfiqur rebuilt the innings after Bangladesh slumped to 24-5.
However three balls later, Rajitha took Mosaddek Hossain for a duck as the batter edged a delivery that moved slightly.

But Mushfiqur remained firm and brought up his 150 from 291 balls, nudging a delivery by offspinner Ramesh Mendis past square leg for two.
Fernando then removed Taijul Islam (15) and Khaled Ahmed (0) to take Sri Lanka closer to wrapping up Bangladesh’s innings.

But Mushfiqur resisted and forced an extended lunch session, Ebadot dismissal later denied him a well-deserved double century.