Rocket Test Series, Second Test
Bangladesh Vs Sri Lanka Played at SBNCS Dhaka
Brief Scorecard At Stumps Day One
Sri Lanka 222 All Out ( BKG Mendis 68 , ARS Silva 56 ,NDK Perera 31 , A Razzak 4/63 , Taijul Islam 4/83 ) Bangladesh 56/4 ( Liton K Das 24* , Kayes 19 )
Fourteen wickets tumbled on day one of Dhaka test in a sharp contrast to previous test played between the teams at Chittagong. Team appears to have been caught in the trap set by the curator for the Lankan Lions.
It is a spinning paradise where batsmen must bat positively to try and score runs as quickly as possible. Any quality spinner can unleash unplayable turning and bouncing deliveries taking help of the drying granular surface. Sri Lanka winning the toss won the first round. No one would love to bat in the fourth innings on such a turning and bouncing surface from the very first over.
At stumps of day one Bangladesh was seen struggling at 56/4 exactly 166 runs behind with 6 wickets in tact. Sri Lanka could manage 222 all out in 65.3 overs. Experts believe that this test would not last more than three days. However we do not believe that test cricket has no last word .It needs to be played till last minute .But morning most of the time shows the day.
After a dull drab and dreary draw in the Chittagong test Dhaka test promised a fascinating contest. In the past two test matches on the ground featuring England Australia and Bangladesh wicket did not behave any different. Ball yesterday also started gripping and turning from the very early when Sri Lanka winning the toss elected batting without any hesitation. Bangladesh did perfectly well recalling Abdur Razzak after exactly four years on the day. The spinning maestro was denied reentry into the test squad despite his consistent brilliant bowling in domestic cricket. He struck gold making all inroads into Sri Lankan top order. Taijul and Miraj also started teasing and tormenting Lankans pitching on the right spots. Surviving and run scoring became uncoded puzzle.
Still Mendis batted bravely sweeping and pulling with intent. However veteran southpaw spinner Razzak was looking dangerous. He appeared not to have lost any of his tricks flighting the ball invitingly and pitching on a teasing length. The ball he bowled to get captain Chandimal out for a golden duck snaked in rattling his furniture. His three other wickets were also from quality deliveries. His 4/63 on his return match and his able partner Taijul’s 4/83 could restrict visitors to 222 all out.
On such a wicket Mendis 61 and Silva 51 appeared as match winning scores as scoring runs on a such a graveyard for batsmen would become more and more evident as match progresses .Bangladesh lost few opportunities. Even 222 appeared 50 runs too many.
Bangladesh started disastrously losing Tamim, Mominul and Mushfique within the wink of an eye. Lankan spinners did not cause that much discomfort. Tamim and Mushfique fell to pacer Lakmal and last test hero Mominul fell to an atrocious mix up getting run out. Bangladesh had its back to the wall at 12/3. Liton joined Kayes and started resurrecting act. However grinding and grafting on such a wicket do not pay dividends as appeared in Lankan innings which witnessed Mendis and Silva counter attacked.
Sri Lanka struck a deadly blow yet again when well set Kayes was sent back to the pavilion after putting on 33 in the fourth wicket with Liton. Bangladesh at stumps struggled to 56/4 with Liton on 24 and night watchman Miraj on 5. With Mahmudullah and Sabiir left it is to be seen how Bangladesh bat on day two. As told surviving would be challenging on such a surface. Letahl wicket taking deliveries turning and bouncing would come often.
Batsmen must have the guts playing strokes and playing positively. Any leading of over 50 by either side would be key. At the moment visitors are looking pretty 166 runs in front. But all not lost yet of team tigers. They can still bat well applying themselves with the task and narrowing the difference as much as possible. Mahmudullah and Liton will have to bat out of their skins to salvage the team first and create assurance. Test cricket must be played on wickets where batsmen and bowlers have equal opportunities as much as possible. Or people would continue to remain away from test cricket.
BDST: 0857 HRS, FEB 9, 2018
SI
