Tigers face uphill task to save Ctg Test
Bangladesh will face a tough task on the final day on Sunday to save the 1st Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka as they were trailing by 119 runs with 7 wickets in hand after the 4th day at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Saturday.
The Tigers having 513 in the 1st innings and at stumps with 81/3* in 26.5 overs opening the 2nd innings in the 3rd session of the 4th day’s play can end the match in draw and this depends on their batting strength.
Mominul Haque (18 off 32b; 1x4) was at the crease when the bails were drawn for the 4th day after the dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim on the day’s final count of Bangladesh innings, reports the UNB.
Bangladesh’s top-order batsmen should have held their nerves for the day-ending 26.5 overs session, but unfortunately with the quick falls of Imrul Kayes (19 off 48b; 1x4), Tamim Iqbal (41 off 62b; 6x4) and Mushfiqur Rahim (2 off 20b), the team could manage only 83 for three (52/1 in 15 overs, 76/2 in 21.4 overs and 81/3 in 26.5 overs).
Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath equally shared three wickets for three, 20 and 22 runs respectively.
Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their 1st innings in the 3rd session on the 4th day with a 200-run lead against hosts Bangladesh in the 1st Test of the two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Saturday.
The visitors declared the innings on 713/9 in 199.3 overs resuming the day with their overnight score of 504/3 in 138 overs.
Sri Lanka played 61.3 overs to add 209 runs with their overnight score for the cost of six wickets.
In the 1st session of 30 overs, Sri Lanka scored 108 for one wicket and 93 off 29 overs for the cost of three wickets in the second session. They lost last two wickets within a span of 8 off 2 overs before declaring the innings.
Roshen Silva (109 off 230b; 6x4; 1x6) completed his maiden Test century before being caught behind by Liton Kumar Das off Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 550/4 in 155.4 overs. Roshen shared a partnership of 135 off 51.1 overs in the 4th pair with skipper Dinesh Chandimal.
Roshen-Chandimal started their composures on the 3rd day after the dismissal of centurion Kusal Mendis (196) on their team collection on 415/3 in 104.3 overs and finished on the 4th day raising the team collection to 550/5 in 155.4 overs.
Dinesh Chandimal (87 off 185b; 3x4) was bowled out by spinner Tajul Islam on 613/5 in 168.3 overs.
Niroshan Dickwella (62 off 61b; 9x4) showed one-day temperament for a half century and shared a partnership of 50 off 10.4 overs with Dilruwan Perera in the 6th stand before he (Dickwella) was caught behind by Liton Kumar Das off Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 663/6 in 179.1 overs.
Dilruwan Perera (32 off 68b; 4x4) was trapped lbw by Sunzamul Islam on 687/7 in 188.3 overs while Taijul Islam bowled out Suranga Lakmal (9) and trapped lbw Rangana Herath (24 off 61b; 1x4) on 706/8 in 197.3 overs and 713/9 in 199.3 overs respectively.
Taijul Islam got four wickets for 219 runs while Mehidy Hasan Miraz three for 147. Mustafizur Rahman and Sunzamul Islam equally shared two wickets conceding 113 and 153 runs respectively in the innings.
Bangladesh posted 513/10 in 129.5 overs in the 1st innings, which ended in the second session on Day-2, opening the innings with bat after winning the toss on Wednesday where Mominul Haque shared partnership of 236 off 56.1 overs in the 3rd wicket stand with former Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim.
Mominul Haque (176), Mushfiqur Rahim (92), skipper Mahmudullah Riyad (83*), Tamim Iqbal (52) and Imrul Kayes (40) were the notable scorers for the host side.
Suranga Lakmal and Rangana Herath captured three wickets each for 68 and 150 runs while Lakshan Sandakan found two for 92. Dilruwan Perera got one wicket conceding 112 runs.
Brief score:
Bangladesh 1st innings: 513/10 in 129.5 overs; Mominul Haque 176, Mushfiqur Rahim 92, Mahmudullah Riyad 83*, Tamim Iqbal 52, Imrul Kayes 40, Sunzamul Islam 24, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 20, Suranga Lakmal 3/68, Rangana Herath 3/150, Lakshan Sandakan 2/92, Dilruwan Perera 1/112.
Bangladesh 2nd innings: 81/3* in 26.5 overs at stumps; Tamim Iqbal 41, Imrul Kayes 19, Mominul Haque 18*, Lakshan Sandakan 1/3, Dilruwan Perera 1/20, Rangana Herath 1/22.
Sri Lanka 1st innings: 713/9-d in 199.3 overs (overnight 504/3 in 138 overs) ; Kusal Mendis 196, Dhananjaya de Silva 173, Roshen Silva 109, Dinesh Chandimal 87, Niroshan Dickwella 62, Taijul Islam 4/219, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3/174, Mustafizur Rahman 1/113, Sunzamul Islam 1/153.