Changed Bangladesh at stumps of day four of the centurion test stands on the threshold of creating history. 19 March 2017 may eventually turn out a red letter day in the test history of Bangladesh. Winning the 100th test itself is a milestone. Only Australia, Pakistan and West Indies did it before .With two wickets in tact Srilanka leads Bangladesh by 139 runs.

Bangladesh needs wrapping up the Sri Lankan innings as soon as possible next morning before the lead grows too much beyond 150. Playing three quality spinners on day 5 will not be easy. Bangladesh will rewrite cricket scripts if it wins the centurion test. Bangladesh winning the test would level the two match Joy Bangla Cup series 1-1.  This will be first test victory by Bangladesh overseas against a full strength top ranked test team. Bangladesh earlier won test against Zimbabwe and weakened West Indies team.

Bangladesh went on scoring 467 in the first innings responding to Sri Lanka’s first innings of 338. Home side was looking good at 54/0 at stumps of day three. Home team weathering early loss of opener WU Tharanga in the very second ball of day four rallied strongly with 86 runs second wicket partnership. The lead was wiped out. At lunch Sri Lanka was looking good for a challenging score with nine wickets in hand. Home side put its nose in front at lunch of day four.

But lunch changed the fate. Mustafiz appeared with a devastating spell removing Mendis, Chandimal and De Silva in the wink of an eye. Mushfique took two spectacular diving catches off the bowling of Mustafiz.  His allay in destruction Shakib also started playing his tricks. He removed Gunaratne trapping him right in front. In no time home side slipped from 1/143 to 6/190 . One person Karunaratne saw it all from one end. When Shakib managed to take his wicket he scored a quality century. His 126 in 244 prevented a total collapse. Perera and Lakmal kept the fight going with an unfinished 9th wicket partnership of 30 runs. Sri Lanka with 139 runs lead can still make a fight of it if it can add another 50 runs. Playing on the fifth day wicket will not be easy.

Mustafiz and Shakib looked hungry and angry after lunch. In one burst they grabbed 5 wickets taking the gloss of Lankan batting. Miraj and Shubhashish also bowled well. Mustafiz took 3/ 52 and Shakib took 3/61 . Miraj and Taijul took one each.

Bangladesh looked very positive all the way excepting the last half an hour of day two. We do not think chasing anything below 200 should be a major problem if there is no more brain freeze. Hope tigers will bring joy for all Bangladeshis all over the world.

Any test match is not won before it is actually won. Bangladesh still have to take the last two wickets and then win the match scoring the required runs.  It was great watching players responded strongly to gossips regarding their lack of commitment.

BDST: 2146 HRS, MAR 18, 2017
SMS