CHITTAGONG, Saturday - Sri Lanka reduced Bangladesh to 81-3 at stumps on the fourth day after declaring their first innings on 713-9 in the opening Test at Chittagong on Saturday.
Dilruwan Perera dismissed Imrul Kayes for 19 before Lakshan Sandakan took the important wicket of Tamim Iqbal, who made 41. Rangana Herath then removed Mushfiqur Rahim for two in the last over of the day. Bangladesh need to score 119 runs to make Sri Lanka bat again, with Mominul Haque -- 18 not out -- at the crease.
Sri Lanka amassed a big total to stretch their first innings lead over Bangladesh to 200 before declaring after tea at 713-9 Taijul Islam bowled Dinesh Chandimal for 87 off the third ball after lunch before off-spinner Mehidy Hasan removed Niroshan Dickwella for 62 to slow down Sri Lanka’s progress.
Debutant left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam then got his maiden Test wicket, trapping Dilruwan Perera leg-before for 32. Perera earlier escaped on four with the first successful review of the game after he was given out leg-before by the on-field umpire off Hasan.
Roshen Silva joined the run fest in the morning session to post his maiden Test century after Sri Lanka resumed on 504-3. He made 109 off 230 balls before becoming the first batsman dismissed on the day.
Silva was Sri Lanka’s third centurion of the innings after Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 196 and 173 runs respectively. Hasan ended Silva’s impressive innings when the right-hander edged a low delivery to wicketkeeper Liton Das. Silva shared a 135-run stand with skipper Dinesh Chandimal for the fourth wicket and hit six fours and a six.
Bangladesh had the chance to dismiss Chandimal on 79 but Liton dropped a catch down the leg side off Hasan. The off-spinner was at fault a few overs later when he could not get his
hand on to an edge by Dickwella off Taijul Islam and the ball raced for four.
Dickwella made Bangladesh pay for the miss as he hit the next two balls for fours, the second one taking Sri Lanka past 600 runs.