Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2018: Day Five Report

The first Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended in a draw. On the fifth day, the host resumed their overnight innings on 81-3, trailing Sri Lanka by 119 runs with seven wickets at hand. Mominul Haque and Liton Das shared a 180-run partnership for the fourth wicket which eventually helped Bangladesh secure a draw in the Chittagong Test.

The diminutive player Mominul scored 105 runs in the second innings and became the first Bangladeshi player to score century in both innings of a Test cricket. In the first innings, he scored 176 runs. His performance led him to gain the record for the highest number of runs scored by a Bangladeshi batsman in a Test match. For his superb performance, he was declared “Player of the Match”. Das, who golden ducked in the first innings, scored 94 runs facing 182 balls.

The stand-in captain, Mahmudullah, was leading the team along with Mosaddek Hossain. They remained not out respectively on 28 and 8 at the crease and took Bangladesh to 307-5 after the end of 100 overs.

Rangana Herath, who took three wickets for 150 runs in the first innings, also took 2 wickets for 80 in the second innings. Other three wickets were shared between De Silva, Perera and Sandakan. 

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2018: Day Four Report

After the end of day four, Sri Lanka is in driving seat. The Lankans are now expecting to win the first Test in an innings margin. In the second innings, Bangladesh scored 81 runs losing three important wickets, trailing Sri Lanka by 119 runs. On the fifth and final day, recovering the deficit, they will have to give the touring team a target in order to avoid defeat in an innings margin.

Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 713-9 after Taijul Islam dismissed Rangana Herath for 24 in the third over of the final session on the fourth day. Taijul Islam took 4 wickets giving 219 runs while Mehedi Hasan picked up 3 for 174. Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 18 at stumps. Mushfiqur Rahim got out in the last ball of the day. 

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2018: Day Three Report

At the end of day three, Sri Lanka put on 504 runs losing 3 wickets. They are just nine runs away from equaling Bangladesh’s first innings total of 513. Roshen Silva was unbeaten on 87 and finished the day along with skipper Dinesh Chandimal who was not out on 37.

Kusal Mendis once again failed to score double century as he got out on 196. Left-arm spinner, Taijul Islam, took his wicket just before the tea break and gave Bangladesh a rare occasion for joy on an arduous day. Earlier pace bowler, Mustafizur Rahman, took the wicket of de Silva who shared 308-run partnership with Mendis in the second wicket stand. De Silva could add 69 runs to his overnight score of 104. Both the batsmen kept on frustrating the Bangladesh bowlers for nearly two sessions after Sri Lanka resumed their innings on 187-1.

Mendis, who turned 23 on February 2, faced 327 balls to score his career best innings. His earlier highest score in Test was 194. However, he added 107 runs with Roshen Silva for the third wicket before returning to the pavilion giving a catch to Mushfiqur Rahim at midwicket.

The host could put the touring team under pressure if the fielders did not miss some catch and run out opportunities. I hope they will learn from their mistakes and will try to bowl the opponent out as early as possible. 

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2018: Day Two Report

Sri Lanka got off to a brilliant start after bowling out Bangladesh for 513 on the second day of the first Test on Thursday. The tourists finished the day with 187-1. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis were at stumps on 104 and 83 respectively. It was De Silva’s fourth Test century and his second consecutive Test ton after his 119 (retired hurt) against India.

It looked like Bangladesh would keep its dominance over the Lankans when off-spinner Mehidy Hasan took the wicket of opener Dimuth Karunarate who gave a catch behind at first slip before the visitors put any run in the score board. 

Bangladesh resumed the second day on 374-4. Mominul Haque could add just one run to his overnight total and got catch out for 176 off Rangana Herath in the third over of the day. The stand-in captain, Mahmudullah, was fighting alone as players on the other side failed to resist the Lankan bowlers with the bat. He made a 58-run partnership with debutant Sunzamul Islam in the eighth wicket stand. However, at one point, it looked like Bangladesh would not move past 500. He along with tail-ender Mustafizur Rahman added 35 runs more and took the team total move past 500. 

Both Suranga Lakmal and Rangana Herath took three wickets apiece for Sri Lanka. Two wickets were claimed by Sandakan while Perera got just one wicket. 

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2018: Day One Report

The first Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka starts on 31st January 2018 in Chittagong. Winning the toss, the stand-in captain Mahmudullah has decided to bat first. After the end of day one, Bangladesh has scored 374 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah have left the field remaining not out respectively on 175 and 9. Mominul is just 6 runs away from equaling his career-best score of 181 runs. The question is if he can register his maiden double hundred in the longest version of cricket game. Another question is if Bangladesh can pile up 500 plus total in the first innings. To get answers of these questions, we will have to wait for day two. 

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes started brilliantly. Tamim Iqbal once again failed to turn his half century into a century as he got bowled out by Dilruwan Perera on 52. Then Imrul Kayes got out on 40 being trapped leg-before by Sandakan. It looks like the loss of these two vital wickets did not have much impact on the scoring rate as Mominul was leading the team along with the former Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim. They shared a 236-run partnership in the third wicket stand. However, Mushfiqur got out giving catch behind the wicket and was short of 8 runs to complete his sixth Test century. Liton Das returns to the pavilion before scoring any run beside his name.

Bangladesh has six more wickets to go. They should try to score as many runs as they can and give their opponent a tough challenge. 

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2018: Spin will be the main weapon?

The first Test of the two-match Test series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will kick off from today (31^st January 2018). Taking the spin track into consideration, both teams will give emphasis on the strength of spin attack. It will not be a shocking matter if they select more than two specialist spinners for the Test. Bangladesh selectors have already drafted 6 spinners in their 16-man squad. Both uncapped and veteran bowlers have got their places in this list. So, it will be a real challenge for spinners to make their inclusion in the playing team.

The absence of Bangladesh premier all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, who has been left out of the first Test because of finger injury, has come as a big blow for the team. The day he sustained injury Bangladesh selectors drafted two uncapped players- Sunzamul Islam and Tanbir Hayder. They will join Nayeem Hasan, who was picked up from Under-19 team in New Zealand. To beef up the spin attack, the selectors have called up the 35-year-old Abdur Razzak, who played his last Test in 2014.

No doubt, Sri Lankan cricket team is now flying high after winning the tri-series title. They will try to keep their winning momentum even in Test series. For that, they will have to depend on Dinesh Chandimal who made 366 runs in three Tests in India. If he can score big runs, Sri Lanka can put up a challenging score against the host nation.

The main cause of concern for Bangladeshi batsmen will be Rangana Herath who has so far taken 41 wickets against the same opponent at an average of 22.63. Bangladeshi batsmen’s performance against him will decide the fate of the series. If top order fails then the entire batting line-up will be collapsed. Tomorrow we can see if batsmen can handle Herath with their bats.