The high scoring first test ended in a big yawn of a draw, but Si Lanka losing 4 quick wickets for 72 chasing an impossible 296 off 37 overs was bad timing in the wake of the first innings failure to capitalize on the strong 368 for 4 in being bowled out for 485 with Bangladesh’s declaration a bad one yesterday at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh’s obvious intent was skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto ‘s twin century landmark ending on an unbeaten 125 off 199 balls inclusive of 9 fours and 3 sixes. It earned him the Player of the Match award over Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka’s massive 187 which was out of this world stuff for the record.
Sri Lanka’s top wicket taker at Galle in the past Prabath Jayasuriya going for some stick a wicket less 154 in the first innings and just the one wicket in the second was a debilitating factor to Sri Lanka’s cause while the three each by debutant Tharindu Rathnayake was though costly. In comparison the quicks Asitha Fernando 4 for 86 and Milan Rathnayake 3 for 39 in the first made a contrasting story while they did not get much of a bowl in the second go with Jayasuriya opening the attack in more a more or less an all spin option with Tharindu Rathnayake coming into the attack after Fernando’s 8 overs in the innings with Milan Rathnayake just 12 overs that fetched him 1 wicket for 26.
The Lankan selectors decision to leave out the inform batsman Nishan Madushka and off spinner Akila Dananjaya who has been at the top of his game in the wicket taking business did leave a bad taste.
Chief Scores
Bangladesh 495
Rahim 163, Shanto 148, Asitha Fernando 4/86, Tharindu Rathnayake 3/196, Milan Rathnayake 3/39
And 285/6 decl. (87 Overs)
Najmul Hossain Shanto n.o. 125, Shadman Islam 76, Mushfiqur Rahim 49, Tharindu Rathnayake 3/102, Milan Rathnayake 1/26, Prabath Jayasuriya 1/92
Sri Lanka 485
Pathum Nissanka 187, Nayeem Hasan 5/121, Hasan Mahmud 3/74
And 72/ (32 Overs)
Kamindu Mendis n.o. 12, Dhananjaya de Silva n.o