Twin tons by Shamsur Rahman and Imrul Kayes and a Bangladesh record of 232-run second wicket stand drove the hosts to 409 for eight wickets against Sri Lanka in their first innings of the second Test on Thursday.
Mahmudullah (30*) and Al-Amin Hossain (3*) will start morning initiations on day four at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
The visitors were poor in the field putting down a minimum of five catching chances which allowed the home side to capitalize on their flaws. Even Al-Amin, the 10th batsman was dropped twice in two overs.
Nasir Hossain (42) was looking good until he was sent packing with only three overs left in the day. He went for the cut only to edge Mendis back to Dinesh Chandimal. Shohag Gazi’s demise came in the very next ball, trapped leg before for a duck to put Mendis on a hat-trick.
The all-round prodigy of Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan, despite having scored his 16th Test fifty, maintained an aggressive mindset and never looked like settling down at one end.
He seemed prone to playing risky shots, finally getting out right after getting his half-century yet again. Shakib spooned Dilruwan Perera straight to Dimuth Karunaratne at short extra cover.
Sangakkara dropped Shakib at first slip on 36 off Angelo Mathews.
Bangladesh avoided the follow on deficit with six overs still remaining at stumps.
Earlier on the day, Bangladesh fought back with a record second-wicket stand of 232 between opener Shamsur Rahman and Imrul Kayes, losing no wicket in the first session.
They bettered the previous best of 200 runs put up by Junaed Siddque and Tamim Iqbal against India in 2010.
Sri Lanka replied in kind with three quick wickets in the second session, and after a 60-run fifth wicket partnership with Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim (20) soon followed.
The skipper edged one on to the pad for a brilliant diving catch at short leg by Kaushal Silva off Dilruwan Perera
Imrul’s (115) maiden century came off 187 deliveries with 16 boundaries and a six.
He lived dangerously before he was finally bowled by Ajantha Mendis, hurting himself as he lost balance.
Imrul had to be stretchered off the field.
He was dropped for the second time on 95 by Kithuruwan Vithanage at backward point off Ajantha Mendis.
His run of luck continued when he was again caught off a no-ball couple of deliveries later. On Wednesday, he had been dropped when he was at 31.
Mominul Haque went at 13, failing to sweep Dilruwan Perera, and was trapped plumb in front of the wicket.
Shamsur (106) drove one through the offside to bring up his hundred off 181 deliveries with 10 boundaries and a six, as the crowd at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium erupted in joy.
But he soon tried to play a rash shot and was bowled by Ajantha Mendis.
After a cautious start, both the batsmen played their share of strokes in the morning session.
Bangladesh started their day at the overnight score of 86 for 1, with opener Tanim Iqbal gone for duck with nothing on board for the Tigers on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka amassed 587 runs riding on Kumara Sangakkara’s triple century the day before. The classy left-hander’s exquisite 319 also helped him record the fastest 11,000 international runs.
Shakib Al Hasan bagged five wickets for 148 runs. Mushfiq stayed off the field due to an injury suffered on Wednesday.
Having lost the first Test by an innings and 248 runs, the home team trail the series 1-0.
Source: Bd news24
