Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim flayed unbeaten centuries in a massive 247 fourth wicket stand as Bangladesh ran up a mammoth 292 for 3 wickets on the opening day of the first test versus Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Sri Lanka had Bangladesh in all sorts of trouble on 45 for 3 wickets into the first ball of the 17th over when debutant off spinner Tharindu Ratnayake grabbed two quick wickets after quick Asitha Fernando had Amanul Haque caught behind by wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis for a duck.
The 29-year old Ratnayake had co-opener Shadman Islam held in the slips by Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva in the slips for 14 and claimed his second wicket in identical fashion when he induced Mominul Haque to edging to Silva falling for 29 off 33.
But Sri Lanka’s early fortunes soon paled off on an easing Galle track very much to the liking of Shanto and Rahim who put all their might to battering the Lankan pace-spin attack with Shanto slamming an unbeaten 136 off 260 balls tucked with 14 fours and a six and Rahim a subdued 105 off 186 content with a watchful 5 hits to the ropes. Tharindu Ratnayake ultimately finished conceded a big 124 runs for his two wickets off 32 overs while Fernando went for 51 for his one wicket off 14 overs.
