Zakir’s Half Century Helps Bangladesh To Survive First Hour

In Chattogram Test against Sri Lanka Bangladesh's overnight pair of Zakir Hasan and Taijul Islam survived the opening hour of play on Day 3 of the second Test today. Zakir has completed his fourth half-century in Tests.

 Zakir completed his fifty with a boundary off Vishwa Fernando, and is batting on 53 with Taijul keeping him company at the other end on nine. After 31 overs, Bangladesh are 90-1 in their first innings, trailing Sri Lanka by 441 runs.

Zakir nearly got caught off Lahiru Kumara on 39, when he edged the ball to the slip cordon and Kamindu Mendis at second slip dived to take the catch. The on-field umpires sent the decision upstairs to check the legitimacy of the catch and the replays showed that the ball had bounced right before it went into Kamindu's palms.

Kumara also induced an outside edge off Taijul but the ball didn't carry to Dimuth Karunaratne at first slip. Sri Lanka also took a review against Zakir a few overs later for caught behind against Fernando but the TV replays showed daylight between the bat and ball. The hosts resumed the day's play on 55-1, with Zakir and Taijul unbeaten on 28 and 0 respectively, trailing Sri Lanka by another 476 runs.