Bangladesh face a tough battle on the final day on Sunday as they attempt to answer the mammoth 713 total set by Sri Lanka in their first innings of Chittagong Test. Tigers were reduced to 81 for 3, and trailing by 119 runs before stumps were drawn on Saturday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Bangladesh made a fine start to their second innings with openers Tamim and Kayes adding 51 for the opening stand on a pitch that had no demons. But Kayes squandered the start and found a way to get himself out. He fell into the trap laid out just for him, attempting to sweep Dilruwan Perera who tossed one up just outside off. He only ended up lobbing one straight up to Dinesh Chandimal at square leg for an easy catch after having not got on top of the bounce. Tamim then got an outside edge off Lakshan Sandakan in his first over as the chinaman tossed one up invitingly outside the offstump, the Cricbuzz reports.
The hosts, however, would have pinned their hope on Mushfiqur and Mominul to resist the Sri Lankan attack after they did so beautifully in the first innings. Sri Lanka had the one extra over for the day and prized out the big wicket of Rahim whose catch was picked out by Kusal Mendis at silly mid-off, which came off his boot. The visitors were confident, the third umpire was called upon and unfortunately for the hosts, Rahim had to make his way back to the pavilion.
Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their 1st innings in the 3rd session on the 4th day with a 200-run lead against hosts Bangladesh in the 1st Test of the two-match series at the Chittagong stadium on Saturday.
The visitors declared the innings on 713/9 in 199.3 overs resuming the day with their overnight score of 504/3 in 138 overs, according to a UNB report.
Sri Lanka played 61.3 overs to add 209 runs with their overnight score for the cost of six wickets.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 513 & 81/3 (Tamim Iqbal 41) trail Sri Lanka 713/9 decl. (Dhananjaya de Silva 173, Kusal Mendis 196, Roshen Silva 109; Mehidy Hasan 3-174, Taijul Islam 4-219) by 119 runs.
