Dhananjaya, Kamindu centuries put Sri Lanka on top on 13-wicket opening day
A day that started with Sri Lanka’s top five being skittled for just 57 ended with Bangladesh three down and trailing by 248 runs. In between, there were centuries for Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis amid a 202-run sixth-wicket stand, as Sri Lanka fought back from a horror start to end day one of the first Test in Sylhet in control of proceedings.
By stumps,Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha had accounted for three of Bangladesh’s top four, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy (9) and nightwatcher Taijul Islam (0) at the crease.
It was a day that belonged to the fast bowlers, except for two notable exceptions, as Dhananjaya and Kamindu showcased just how easy batting could get once you got yourself in and the ball softened up. Having come together with the score on 57 for 5, the pair rode out the early movement being exploited by the seamers to see Sri Lanka through to lunch, before exploding after the interval to drag Sri Lanka back into the game.
In a dominant post-lunch session, they struck 125 runs, going stretches at better than a run-a-ball, while the Bangladesh seamers, who had seemed so threatening in the morning, were left scratching their heads.
Perhaps a little too eager in striving for wickets – this was after all Sri Lanka’s last recognised pair – the bowlers struggled to maintain consistent lines and lengths, something that they had had trouble with even in that morning session.
From a Sri Lankan perspective, the highlight would have been the speed at which they seemed to put the pressure back on Bangladeshi. Having seen the game through to lunch without further damage, the pair came out all guns blazing after the break with an onslaught from both ends.
Both Dhananjaya and Kamindu seemingly attacked in lockstep, reaching their half-centuries in the same overs, and their centuries in the same over too. Boundaries were never lacking, and indeed it was only when the spinners were in operation that the scoring rate began to reduce. But among the hallmarks of their stand was the lack of risk-taking; boundaries came almost exclusively against poor deliveries – aside from some sumptuous on-the-up drives – while singles were found with consummate ease.
The ends of their respective innings were also more self-inflicted than anything else, with Kamindu poking at one outside off a delivery after reaching his maiden Test century, while Dhananjaya found the boundary rider at deep-backward square-leg with a hook.
It could have been all so different for Bangladesh, though, had they capitalised fully on their early period of dominance. Having bundled Sri Lanka’s top order, Shoriful Islam had Kamindu edging to first slip first ball, only for it to be spilled by Mahmudul. At the time it didn’t seem like it would be too costly, but Bangladesh will definitely rue that missed opportunity.
Prior to that, though, things had all gone as planned. Having put Sri Lanka in to bat on a rare green top in Sylhet, the seamers made full use of the movement on offer.
Nishan Madushka was the first to fall, getting a thick edge through to third slip in the second over of the day, where Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a fine head-height catch. A period of stabilisation followed but that wouldn’t last long as Kusal Mendis was caught in two minds whether to play or leave a short one outside off, eventually guiding it to gully.
Dimuth Karunaratne, who had been fairly solid up until that point, followed later that same over missing one that swung in sharply from around the wicket to find its way past his drive and into off stump. All the three wickets fell to Khaled Ahmed.
Things got worse for Sri Lanka when Angelo Mathews was caught well short of his crease by a direct hit from Najmul Hossain Shanto going for a tight single. Dinesh Chandimal didn’t last much longer either, as he clipped Islam Shoriful to leg slip, who took a good low grab that was held up following an umpire referral.
Khaled was the pick of the bunch during this morning session, while debutant Nashid Rana proved menacing, if sometimes erratic, with speeds regularly clocking in the mid-140s. He took some stick from both Dhananjaya and Kamindu, but got them both to end with three wickets in his debut Test innings.
But with Sri Lanka’s seamers enjoying similar early fortunes, Bangladesh’s batters will need to withstand a similarly trialling morning session on day two if they’re to stay competitive in this Test.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 280 in 68 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 102, Kamindu Mendis 102; Khaled Ahmed 3-72, Nahid Rana 3-87) lead Bangladesh 32/3 in 10 overs (Vishwa Fernando 2-09, Kasun Rajitha 1-20) by 248 runs
(Cricinfo)
