Walton Test Series 
Bangladesh VS Sri Lanka Series 
2nd Test 
Scorecard at Stumps on Day Two. 
Srilanka 469/6 (Lahiru Thirimanne 140, Dimuth Karunaratne 118, Oshada Fernando 81, Niroshan Dickwala 64* Pithum Nishanka 30, Ramesh Mendis 22, Taskin Ahmed 3/ 119) 

It was dream first session on day two for Bangladesh. Taskin was at his brilliant best teasing and tormenting Srilankan batsmen. Rahi, Shoriful, Taijul and Mehedy all bowled consistently on tight length in the corridor. Three quick wickets were taken. Smart fielding and right decision of taking DRS could add few more. Home team was huffing and puffing. Only 43 runs were added in the entire two hours session. Arguably the best bowling session of Bangladesh in test away from home. Two more wickets went down in post lunch session. But credits should also go to Sri Lanka for braving out good bowling sessions of Bangladesh. Post tea session was interrupted. Shanto dropped another sitter his second of the match. When rain and bad light stopped play Sri Lanka reaching 469/6 took control of the match. Unfortunately, Morning did not show the day for Bangladesh. 

Sri Lanka resuming the day at 291/1 encountered a different Bangladesh firing in all cylinders. Taskin constantly teased the batsmen bowling fast and accurate. Shoriful and Rahi also created pressure. The dead surface suddenly came alive. The second centurion Thirimanne was first gone caught behind of the bowling of Taskin scoring 140. Taskin rocked Lankan batting removing Angelo Mathhews in the same manner few moments later. From 1/291 it soon changed to 3/313. When Taijul accounted for Dhananjaya de Silva Srilanka had its back to the wall at 4/328. There was several play and miss. Sri Lankans somehow survived.

Two more wickets fell between lunch and tea. Oshada Fernando and Pithun Nishanka were gone. At 6/382 Bangladesh was still in the game. 

Post tea session was interrupted twice. After first interruption and easy catch of Ramesh Mendis in the slip off the bowling of Taskin was dropped again by Nazmul Hossian Shanto. Shanto on day one also dropped Karunaratne on 28. In test if a team drops easy catches they cannot win matches. If Bangladesh fielded better and taken all their chances Sri Lanka could be all out yesterday. On another day in another place Taskin could have finished Sri Lanka innings much earlier taking 5 or 6 wickets instead of finishing day two at 3/ 119. 

Credit is also due to Dickwalla (64*) and Mendis (22*) for hanging around in unfinished 87 runs 7th wicket partnership. We are not sure when Sri Lanka would declare or at what score Bangladesh can wrap them up. But dropped catches and wrong perception of DRS use has already put Bangladesh on the back foot. Hope Bangladesh would have another bright morning session today. Taskin richly deserves a five wickets innings. Bangladesh would have to bat out of their skin in the first innings to stay in the match. 

BDST: 1201 HRS, May 1, 2021
SMS