Bangladesh’s reckless batting effort at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today proved costly as they lost badly to Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series, as was projected.
An hour after noon on Day 4, Bangladesh, chasing an unlikely 511 runs, were bowled out for 182 in their second innings.
Mominul Haque fought alone, reaching 87 off 148 deliveries—12 fours and one six—during his innings.
The main wrecker was pacer Kasun Rajitha, who scored his career-high 5-56 in a Test innings. Rajitha finished with a career-high 8-112 in a Test match, having also taken 3-56 in the opening innings.
Despite reducing Sri Lanka to 57-5 in the first innings, Bangladesh failed to take the upper-hand of the game. Sri Lanka rode on 102 each from Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis to post 280 in the first inning and thereafter put them on top, dismissing Bangladesh for 188.
With a handsome 92-run lead in the kitty, Sri Lankan first innings protagonists, Kamindu and de Silva once again tormented Bangladesh, achieving the record of hitting centuries in both innings.
This time Kamindu hammered 164 and de Silva struck 108 as Sri Lanka compiled 418 before being all out in second inning, to set an improbable target for Bangladesh.
In reply, Bangladesh played some injudicious shots on Day 3 to be reduced to 47-5, which completely decided the fate of the match.
However, Bangladesh rediscovered some fighting spirit on Day 4, when it was anticipated that they would be finished with a session, because of Mominul Haque’s tenacity.
However, Sri Lanka gained momentum early in the morning session when Taijul Islam was trapped for six runs by fast bowler Kasun Rajitha in the second over.
Subsequently, Mominul managed to form two crucial alliances that helped narrow the defeat margin. He shared a 66-run seventh-wicket partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, but Rajitha struck once more to end the partnership. Miraz gained a strong outside edge after playing an expansive drive after scoring 33 from 50 deliveries.
Mominul also had a 47-run partnership with Shoriful Islam (12) for the eighth wicket.
Rajitha broke the partnership when he removed Shoriful with a return catch and then in next delivery he had Khaled Ahmed caught by Kusal Mendis for duck for his second five-for in his career.
Kumara who returned figures of 2-39, ended Bangladesh innings by dismissing Nahid Rana for duck.
Vishwa Fernando couldn’t add to his three-wicket haul from Day 3 and had figures of 3-36 from 15 overs.
