Bangladesh Sri Lanka Test Series 
1st Test Played at Palekelle, Candy 
Brief Scorecard at Stumps day Three 
Bangladesh 541/7 Declared (Nazmul Hossain Shanto 163, Mominul Haq 127, Tamim Iqbal 90, Mushfiqur Rahim 68*, Liton K Das 50, Vishwa Fernando 4/96)
Sri Lanka 229/3 (Dimuth Karunaratne 85*, Lahiru Thirimanne 58, Dhananjaya de Silva 26*, Angelo Matthew 25, Oshada Fernando 20)
Sri Lanka are Trailing By 312 Runs with 7 First Innings Wicket Standing.

“Once in a Blue Moon “they say. Yes, it is once in a Blue Moon Bangladesh plays a huge first innings score like 541/7 declared. But not always Bangladesh grabs opportunity with both hands to win. The opportunity has emerged yet again yesterday as batting against the tall score Sri Lanka was not out of the woods at 229/3. 

A planned strategy and disciplined bowling action in the morning session of day five may brighten Bangladesh opportunity for forcing a win in the test. However, the bitter experience of Wellington Test in January 2017 reflected again. Bangladesh in that match scored 575/8 declared (Shakib 217, Mushfique 159, Mominul 64, Tamim 56 and Sabbir 54*) in the first innings. New Zealand replied scoring 539 All out. Then in the second innings Bangladesh got bundled out for 160. New Zealand won the match by 7 wickets scoring 217/3. We know circumstances alter cases. We are saying the nightmare of Wellington would return to Palekelle. But let us hope the opportunity does not slip out of the hands of Bangladesh. 

There was an expectation that Bangladesh on day three would bat till lunch or a little beyond to score 600 and bat out Sri Lanka completely from the match. But good penetrative batting with the third new ball hastened Bangladesh losing some wickets. Bangladesh chose declaring at 541/7 instead sending Sri Lanka bat for 30 minutes before lunch. Taskin bowled fast and at teasing length. With a little bit of luck Taskin could get a wicket or two in his opening spell of 5 overs. There were few playing and missing and once he almost got a LBW going his way. Ebadat also bowled fast. But he could not bowl consistently. Anyway, Sri Lankan batsmen braved the situation and steadied the boat. The 114 runs first wicket partnership set a good foundation for the home team. The bounce and movement of the new ball eased out. However, the spinners started getting some turn and bounce from the rough created by the pace bowlers. Meraj got Thirimanne out LBW making the first breakthrough.  Bangladesh could make few more break through if Mominul could use DRS smartly. Taskin again asked questions while coming to bowl in the second spell. He managed getting Oshanda out. Sri Lankan batsmen applied themselves despite Bangladeshi spinners Meraj and Taijul settling down to teasing line and length. Scoring 229/3 at stumps Sri Lanka made the match wide open. Dimuth Karunaratne was batting on well made 85, Dhananjaya de Silva was him batting on 25. They produced unbroken 39 already in the 4th wicket partnership. 

The first session of day four promises to be match defining. A few quick wickets are taken by Bangladesh would tilt the balance in favor of Bangladesh. On the other hand, Sri Lanka may also add another 100 runs in the session without losing a wicket. That would place them in a situation for not only saving the match but also planning for pushing Bangladesh to a challenging situation. 

A chance has come in the way of Bangladesh. Let it not be wasted. Bangladesh must try and grab it with both hands. 

BDST: 1120 HRS, APR 24, 2021
SMS