Photo : Collected
As it was predicted, Bangladesh suffered a crushing 328-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the two-match series opening Test, paying the price of their reckless batting effort at Sylhet International
Cricket Stadium on Monday (25 March).
Chasing an improbable 511-run target, Bangladesh were bowled out for 182 in its second innings just an hour after the lunch session on Day 4.
Mominul Haque waged a lone battle, stranding on 87 from 148 deliveries, an innings which included 12 fours and one six.
Pacer Kasun Rajitha was the wrecker-in-chief with 5-56, which was his career- best effort in a Test innings. Rajitha also grabbed 3-56 in the first innings, to finish with his career-best 8-112 in a Test match.
Despite reducing Sri Lanka to 57-5 in the first innings, Bangladesh failed to take the upper-hand of the game. Sri Lanka rode on 102 each from Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis to post 280 in the first inning and thereafter put them on top, dismissing Bangladesh for 188.
With a handsome 92-run lead in the kitty, Sri Lankan first innings protagonists, Kamindu and de Silva once again tormented Bangladesh, achieving the record of hitting centuries in both innings.
This time Kamindu hammered 164 and de Silva struck 108 as Sri Lanka compiled 418 before being all out in second inning, to set an improbable target for Bangladesh.
In reply, Bangladesh played some injudicious shots on Day 3 to be reduced to 47-5, which completely decided the fate of the match.
But on Day 4, when it was expected that they would be wrapped up in a session, Bangladesh found some fighting instinct, thanks to Mominul Haque's resilience.
But Sri Lanka made early inroads in the morning session when pace bowler Kasun Rajitha trapped Taijul Islam lbw for six in the second over.
Mominul then stitched two important partnerships to reduce the margin of the defeat. He and Mehidy Hasan Miraz combined for a 66-run seventh-wicket stand but Rajitha struck again to break up the partnership. Miraz scored 33 from 50 deliveries before he played an expansive drive and got a thick outside edge.
Mominul also had a 47-run partnership with Shoriful Islam (12) for the eighth wicket.
Rajitha broke the partnership when he removed Shoriful with a return catch and then in next delivery he had Khaled Ahmed caught by Kusal Mendis for duck for his second five-for in his career.
Kumara who returned figures of 2-39, ended Bangladesh innings by dismissing Nahid Rana for duck.
Vishwa Fernando couldn't add to his three-wicket haul from Day 3 and had figures of 3-36 from 15 overs.
Messenger/Sumon
