Bangladesh’s bowling did not start well after failing with the bat in the first innings of the Colombo Test. After a disappointing day yesterday, the visitors were trying to turn things around this morning with a pair of strikes from Nahid Rana and Taijul.
Sri Lanka eventually finished their first innings at 458 runs in 116.5 overs. The hosts took a lead of 211 runs in the first innings. Bangladesh will have to set a target of 211 runs to put Sri Lanka back in batting.
Taijul Islam took five wickets in a dominant procession of Sri Lankan batters. Tiger, the spinner, achieved the feat of being a wicketkeeper for the 17th time in his Test career.
The hosts ended the second day at 290 for 2 in reply to Bangladesh’s 247 in the first innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground in Colombo. The Sri Lankans were leading by 43 runs with 8 wickets in hand. Nishanka was unbeaten on 146 and Prabath Jayasuriya was unbeaten on 5.
On the third day, after scoring 150 runs, Nishanka fell victim to Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam. He scored 158 runs off 254 balls with 19 fours. After Nishanka, Taijul stopped Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 7 runs.
Pacer Nahid Rana entered the wicket-taking list after Taijul’s double strike. He dismissed nightwatchman Jayasuriya for 10 runs. After the fifth wicket fell at 335 runs, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis tried to build a partnership. The two added 49 runs. Kamindu, who had made 33 runs, was caught by spinner Naim Hasan.
The visitors did not take long to find success after the lunch break. Naeem Hasan bowled Sonal Dinusha in the second over. How far Sri Lanka’s innings could go depended a lot on Kusal Mendis. The Sri Lankan batsman made things easy for Bangladesh. He gave away a wicket in a quick two-run over. Kusal scored 84 runs off 87 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Three balls later, Asitha Fernando was caught by Sadman Islam at mid-on in search of a big shot. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 458. Along with Taijul’s Pfeiffer, Naeem Hasan was also brilliant with the ball. He took three wickets. Nahid also got one wicket.
FAQ
Who is Taijul and what did he achieve in the match?
Taijul Islam is a Bangladeshi left-arm spinner. He took five wickets (a five-wicket haul) in Sri Lanka’s first innings, showing great skill with the ball.
Despite Taijul’s performance, how did Sri Lanka manage to score 458 runs?
Sri Lanka had strong batting performances, with several players scoring big runs. Even though Taijul took five wickets, other bowlers couldn’t stop the flow of runs.
How important was Taijul’s five-wicket haul?
Taijul’s five wickets were crucial in preventing Sri Lanka from scoring even more. It was a standout individual performance in an otherwise tough innings for Bangladesh.
Did any Sri Lankan batsmen score a century?
Yes, one or more Sri Lankan batsmen likely scored centuries to help the team reach 458. The article probably mentions the top scorers.
What were the pitch conditions like during Sri Lanka’s innings?
The pitch likely favored batting early on, helping Sri Lanka score big. As the innings progressed, it started offering some help to spinners like Taijul.
