Sri Lanka Amassed 88 For No Loss

Bangladesh would be ruing the missed chances as Sri Lanka made a commanding start on the opening day of their second Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today. At lunch, Sri Lanka amassed 88 for no loss in a 27-over session with Nishan Madushka unbeaten on 55 off 97 and Dimuth Karunaratne not out on 33 off 65 deliveries. 

Despite a few close shaves, Madushka and Karunaratne played brilliantly. Early in the innings when pacers Khaled Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud were getting the cherry to move a bit, they took their time and offered no shots to deliveries away from their bodies. However, whenever pitched full or on the pads, the duo were quick to punish those. 

Their patience paid off as Madushka got to his second Test fifty, helping Sri Lanka to a dominating position in the game. 

 Chances came very rarely for Bangladesh but the hosts were wasteful on every occasion. The best and the easiest chance came in the sixth over when debutant pacer Hasan Mahmud had induced an edge off the bat of right-hander Madushka -- on nine at that time -- only to see Mahmudul Hasan Joy fumble at second slip. What makes it the most disappointing is that the ball came directly at Joy at a very comfortable height. 

Karunaratne, the other Sri Lankan opener, then survived a run-out scare in the 16th over. The Sri Lankan batters were caught in two minds while trying to sneak a single, playing a Khaled Ahmed delivery towards point region. Karunaratne, at 18, went almost halfway through the pitch before deciding to come back, and a direct hit from Mehedi Hasan Miraz at point could have seen the end of the left-hander's innings. 

Karunaratne, on 22, once again survived in the 22nd over when he top-edged a Hasan bouncer and saw Shakib Al Hasan at fine leg unable to position himself properly for the catch and eventually pushing it over the boundary for a maximum. It was a tough chance, but reachable if judged properly. 

For Bangladesh, Hasan has been the most impressive, troubling batters early in the innings with enough swing and movement early in the innings. He came back at the latter stage of the session as well and kept on asking questions.

Another good sign for the hosts was that spinners Shakib and Mehedi Hasan Miraz got some turn with the latter beating the edge of Karunaratne once.