Bangladesh was very much in control of the first test versus Sri Lanka on an avalanche of 484 for 9 on big centuries by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto 148 off 279 balls with 15 fours and a six, for his fifth test hundred, and Mushfiqur Rahim 163 in a marathon 350-ball stay inclusive of 9 boundaries , the 11th by the veteran of a 20-year career, with wicket-keeper batsman Litton Das applying the final thrust firing 9 off 123 balls with 11 fours and a six on a rain hit second day that the Lankans did hit back grabbing 5 wickets for 61 runs in the final session following a rain interruption at the Galee International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
However, Bangladesh’s grandstand 264-fourth wicket Shanto-Rahim thrust followed by the sixth wicket Rahim-Shanto 149 fifth wicket dominance had already insulated the visitors on a summit of dictating the game to the Sri Lankans who would be staring at a close to 500 or more first innings total with Bangladesh still a wicket intact.
From a Sri Lankan perspective, the bright side to the bowling department came in a late burst 3-wickets for 38 runs by the 28-year old medium quick Milan Rathnayake off 22.4 overs which he would be pleased with on a personal note.
Chief Scores:
Bangladesh 484/9 (151 Overs)
Mushfiqur Rahim 163, Najmul Hossain Shanto 148, Litton Das 90, Milan Rathnayake 3/38, Asitha Fernando 3/80, Tharindu Rathnayake 3/196)
