Image Credit- AFP
Bangladesh was three
down and trailed by 248 runs at the end of a day that began with Sri Lanka’s
top five being skittled for just 57. Between, Sri Lanka recovered from a
disastrous start to take control of the first Test match in Sylhet, thanks to
centuries for Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis during a 202-run
sixth-wicket stand.
Three of the top four scorers in Bangladesh by stumps came from Vishwa Fernando
and Kasun Rajitha, with nightwatcher Taijul Islam (0) and Mahmudul Hasan Joy
(9) at the crease.
With two significant
exceptions, Dhananjaya and Kamindu demonstrated how easy it might be to bat
once you were in position and the ball softened. Overall, it was a day that
favoured the fast bowlers. After uniting with the score at 57 for 5, the duo
weathered the early movement that the seamers were taking advantage of to take
Sri Lanka to lunch, and then they sprang into action following the interval to
force Sri Lanka back into the match.
They made 125 runs in a commanding post-lunch session, scoring at rates better
than a run-a-ball, leaving the Bangladesh seamers, who had seemed so dangerous
in the morning, scratching their heads.
The thing that stood
out to Sri Lankans was how quickly they appeared to reimpose pressure on
Bangladeshis. After surviving the game till lunchtime without suffering any
more losses, both players unleashed a furious attack from the sidelines
following the break.
It seemed as though Dhananjaya and Kamindu launched their attacks
simultaneously, as they both reached their half-centuries and hundreds in the
same overs. However, one of their standout qualities was their complete lack of
willingness to take chances. They hardly ever set boundaries other than against
bad deliveries, with the exception of a few opulent on-the-up drives, and they
had little trouble finding singles.
If Bangladesh’s
batsmen are to remain competitive in this Test, they will have to endure an
equally taxing morning session on day two, given that Sri Lanka’s seamers have
had comparable early luck.