Play called off for Day-3, BD trail hosts by 182 runs

Bangladesh were all out for 312 in 97.2 overs in their first innings during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium today.

For Bangladesh, the 118-run opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar and the seventh wicket partnership of 106 between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz enabled their team to reach 300 in the end.

Tigers captain Mushfiqur was the top-scorer for his side in the first innings with his watchful 85. Soumya Sarkar made 71.

Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath both picked up three wickets. Herath grabbed 3 for 72 in 26.2 overs while Dilruwan captured 3 for 53 in 19.

Mustafizur Rahman was the last man to fall after play resumed following a brief interruption for bad light. Bangladesh pacer clipped the ball from Herath straight at short leg where the fielder held on to the catch.

Mustafizur Rahman c Mendis b Herath 4 (9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 44.44

Fall of wicket 312/10 (97.2 ov); Partnership: 4 runs, 1.4 overs, RR: 2.40 (Subashis Roy 0, Mustafizur Rahman 4)

Bangladesh trailed Sri Lanka by 182 runs with one wicket remaining in their first innings when the players left the field for tea on day-3.

Mushfiqur Rahim was the ninth wicket to fall in the first innings for Bangladesh when he was bowled by Rangana Herath for 85 to leave the tourists at 308 for 9 in 95.4 overs.

With wickets falling at the other end, Mushfiqur had to go for the shots. He came down the track to a ball from Herath. The ball slid in with the arm through the gap between bat and pad and disturbed the batsman’s furniture.

Mushfiqur Rahim b Herath 85 (161b 8x4 1x6) SR: 52.79

Fall of wicket 308/9 (95.4 ov); Partnership: 10 runs, 5.2 overs, RR: 1.87 (Mushfiqur Rahim 10, Subashis Roy 0)

Earlier, Bangladesh lost their eighth wicket when Taskin Ahmed was sent back for a golden-duck by Dilruwan Perera to leave the tourists struggling at 298 for 8 after 90.2 overs during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium today.

After Taskin was struck on the pads, Sri Lanka cricketers were vociferous in their appeal although the umpire was unmoved. Consequently, the review was taken and replays showed there was no inside edge, and the third umpire ruled in favour of the bowler.

Taskin Ahmed lbw b Perera 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Fall of wicket 298/8 (90.2 ov); Partnership: 0 runs, 0.1 overs, RR: 0.00 (Mushfiqur Rahim 0, Taskin Ahmed 0)

The seventh-wicket stand between Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim was broken in the 91st over when Dilruwan trapped Mehedi in front. Mehedi stayed back and tried to defend but the ball was fired quicker.

Bangladesh lost their seventh wicket just after avoiding follow-on.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz lbw b Perera 41 (77b 5x4 0x6) SR: 53.24

Fall of wicket 298/7 (90.1 ov); Partnership: 106 runs, 24.4 overs, RR: 4.29 (Mushfiqur Rahim 59, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 41)

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim reached his fifty while his team crossed 250 during the post-lunch session of day-3.

Mushfiqur pushed a back of a length ball in the 79th over from Kumara past short cover and brought up the 16th half century of his Test career.

The seventh wicket stand of 59 in 13.1 overs between Mushfiqur and Mehedi Hasan Miraz gave Bangladesh fans some hope of a fightback in the first innings after most of the top-order batters threw their wickets away on a placid track at Galle.

Bangladesh trailed Sri Lanka by 281 runs with four wickets remaining in their first innings at lunch on day-3.

Mushfiqur Rahim was batting on 22 and Mehedi Hasan Miraz on 11 when the players left the field for lunch. It was an excellent morning for the hosts. 80 runs scored and four wickets taken in the session. After being 118/0, Bangladesh would be disappointed to see 213/6 on the board.

Bangladesh could have been seven down before lunch when Mehedi was dropped in the slip. The batsman played away from his body to a shortish ball from Sandakan, and the top-edge was not taken by the fielder to the disappointment of his teammates.

Tigers Test skipper Mushfiqur was struck on the helment in the 67th over by Lahiru Kumara. The batsman was compelled to remove his helmet and check his gear.

Bangladesh lost their sixth wicket when Liton Das was sent back by Sri Lanka captain Rangana Herath with the tourists struggling at 192 for 6 after 65.3 overs.

Sri Lanka kept on getting the breakthroughs on a regular basis, and this time it was Herath who got his name in the wickets column.

The good length ball from Herath enticed Liton to play a loose shot, and the batsman obliged. Liton made room and poked at the ball without really moving his feet, and the ball took the outside edge and was taken at slip.

Liton Das c Gunaratne b Herath 5 (13b 1x4 0x6) SR: 38.46

Fall of wicket 192/6 (65.3 ov); Partnership: 8 runs, 2.5 overs, RR: 2.82 (Mushfiqur Rahim 2, Liton Das 5)

Sri Lanka ensured their dominance approaching the end of the morning session of day-3 when Lahiru Kumara sent Mahmudullah Riyad’s off stump cart-wheeling to leave Bangladesh tottering at 184 for 5 after 62.4 overs.

After being peppered with some short, discomforting deliveries, Mahmudullah played down the wrong line to a full ball from Kumara, and was comprehensively beaten and bowled.

Mahmudullah b Kumara 8 (26b 1x4 0x6) SR: 30.76

Fall of wicket 184/5 (62.4 ov); Partnership: 14 runs, 7.2 overs, RR: 1.90 (Mahmudullah 8, Mushfiqur Rahim 5)

Earlier, Bangladesh found themselves under real pressure at 170 for 4 in 55.2 overs during the morning session of day-3 after they lost their fourth wicket, that of Shakib Al Hasan when he was caught down the leg side after racing to 23.

Shakib was rather unfortunate for the ball from Lakshan Sandakan was sliding down the leg side. The left-hander tried to play it fine, probably too fine for his liking and found the keeper take a sharp catch after moving quickly to the left. The wrong’un from Sandakan did the trick.

Shakib Al Hasan c †Dickwella b Sandakan 23 (19b 1x4 1x6) SR: 121.05

Fall of wicket 170/4 (55.2 ov); Partnership: 28 runs, 6.2 overs, RR: 4.42 (Mushfiqur Rahim 4, Shakib Al Hasan 23)

Bangladesh suffered an early blow on day-3 when Soumya Sarkar was bounced out by Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal to leave the tourists at 142 for 3 after 49 overs.

Soumya’s lapse of concentration came out in the loose shot the left-hander played to a short ball at leg stump. The batsman was probably in two minds about which shot to play, and in the end his pull only produced a top edge to fine leg where Lahiru Kumara didn’t make any mistake.

Soumya Sarkar c Kumara b Lakmal 71 (137b 8x4 1x6) SR: 51.82

Fall of wicket 142/3 (48.6 ov); Partnership: 15 runs, 8.3 overs, RR: 1.76 (Mushfiqur Rahim 5, Soumya Sarkar 10)

Bad start for Bangladesh on the third day, and the onus now falls on the shoulders of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to take their team to safety.

Tigers allrounder was looking to assert himself on the Sri Lankan bowlers, and was nearly undone by a Lakmal bouncer in the 53rd over. The top edge flew over fine leg for a six.

Bangladesh cricket captain Mushfiqur Rahim (L) plays a shot as Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella (C) looks on during the third day of the opening Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at The Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on March 9, 2017. Photo: AFP