Mominul stands tall as Bangladesh fall apart

Bangladesh suffered a crushing 328-run defeat in the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka as Mominul Haque's valiant knock on Day 4 could only reduce the margin of defeat for the hosts at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Mominul remained unbeaten on 87 as Bangladesh got bundled out for 182, with pacer Kasun Rajitha being the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 56. Pacers Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara took three and two wickets each.

The Sri Lankan pacers made great use of the greenish pitch in Sylhet, claiming all 20 Bangladesh wickets. This is the first time since 1986 that a Sri Lankan pace attack has done it in a Test match and the third time overall.

The match progressed into the second session of Day 4 owing to Mominul's resilience, who, after losing his overnight partner Taijul Islam (six) early in the day, stitched together a 66-run partnership with Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh's highest stand in the match.

Miraz departed with around 30 minutes to go in the first session, after which Mominul and Shoriful took the team into lunch.

Mominul added 47 runs for the eighth wicket with Shoriful but the partnership ended when the latter hit the ball straight back to the bowler and Rajitha took a sharp catch.

Rajitha then completed his five-wicket haul in the very next ball, nicking off Khaled Ahmed for a first-ball duck.

Mominul then cut loose, hitting left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya for three fours and a six from a slog sweep to get into the 80s.

But he couldn't convert his 17th Test half-century into his 13th century, as Nahid Rana got caught off a well-directed delivery at his rib cage from Lahiru Kumara to be out for nought.

The writing was already on the wall for Bangladesh when they resumed the day's proceedings on 47 for 5, chasing 511. 

Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis had earlier set the base for the victory, with a century each in both innings. 

Sent to bat, Sri Lanka posted 280 and earned a 92-run lead after bowling out Bangladesh for just 188. Then the visitors piled on 418 in the second innings and crushed the hosts under the weight of the massive target.

Both teams will now travel to Chattogram from the second and final Test of the series, starting on March 30.

Mominul's resilience delaying the inevitable

Bangladesh are three wickets away from losing the first Test against Sri Lanka, heading into the lunch break on Day 4 on 129 for 7, with overnight batter Mominul Haque unbeaten on 46 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

The Tigers lost the wicket of night-watchman Taijul Islam early in the day, with him getting trapped LBW for six, after the Tigers began the fourth day reeling on 47 for 5 chasing 511.

Miraz then joined Mominul and the duo showed some fight against the Sri Lankan pace trio, who have claimed all 17 Bangladesh wickets that have fallen so far in this match.

They had to endure pressure from the Sri Lankan pacers in the first hour but as time progressed batting seemingly got easier and the duo also began hitting some boundaries.

Miraz, who had moved on to 33 off 49 balls with the help of six fours, tried to hit one boundary too many as he edged a ball from Rajitha into the hands of captain Dhananjaya de Silva.

The wicket ended a 66-run stand, the Tiger's lone 50-plus partnership in the match so far.

Mominul continued his battle with Shoriful Islam (three) and the duo will continue their attempt to delay the inevitable defeat for the hosts in the second session.