Colombo: Bangladesh paid the price of their reckless batting show as they left the side in a troublesome position on a rain-truncated Day 1 of the second and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka at Sinhalese Sports Club ground today. At stumps, Bangladesh reached 220-8 with no batters able to show the required discipline to value their wicket.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, opener Shadman Islam top-scored for the side with 46 while the likes of Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, and Mehidy Hasan got the start but couldn't carry on at the end. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first, but the batters couldn't vindicate the decision. The visiting side received a setback early in the day when opener Anamul Haque Bijoy was dismissed for a 10-ball duck. His three innings in Sri Lanka now read 0, 4, and 0.
Anamul struggled at the crease as the Sri Lankan bowlers moved and swung the ball in the air admirably. His 10-ball struggle finally ended when he dragged one onto his stump after pacer Asitha Fernando bowled a back-of-length delivery that nipped back in. Shadman also looked in clear discomfort initially, but Mominul Haque's solid approach took the pressure off him gradually. Mominul played with confidence until he pushed a wide delivery from Dhananjaya de Silva straight to cover, hitting three fours for his 39-ball 21.
Rain arrived shortly after the lunch session, delaying the game for almost two hours. After the rain break, Bangladesh were blown twice as they lost set batters Shadman Islam and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive overs. Shadman approached his second fifty in as many Tests but fell short by four runs when Tharindu Rathnayake had him caught by Dhananjaya de Silva with a sharp turn for 46. Pacer Vishwa Fernando then was rewarded for his consistency with the wicket of Shanto, who edged a moving delivery behind for 8.
Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim then appeared to be in control, but debutant Sonal Dinusha dismissed Liton for his maiden wicket, ending the 67-run partnership on the stroke of tea. Liton scored a 56-ball 34 with two fours and one six. Dinusha also got the key scalp of Mushfiqur shortly after, as he holed out to deep square leg by playing his favorite slog sweep shot. Mushfiqur, who scored 163 and 49 in the first Test, this time scored 35.
Pacer Vishwa Fernando thereafter struck twice, claiming the wickets of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (31) and Nayeem Hasan (25), putting Sri Lanka in control. Taijul Islam was batting on 9 with Ebadot Hossain on 5 when the bails were drawn. Two Fernandos-Vishwa and Asitha-and debutant Sonal Dinusha claimed two wickets apiece.