CHITTAGONG: Dhananjaya de Silva struck a century and shared 187 runs in an unbroken second-wicket stand with Kushal Mendis as Sri Lanka gave a strong reply to Bangladesh in the first Test here at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Thursday.

De Silva made an unbeaten 104 while Mendis hit 83 not out, guiding Sri Lanka to 187-1 at stumps on the second day.

Earlier, Rangana Herath and Suranga Lakmal took three wickets each to help the visitors dismiss Bangla­desh for 513 in their first innings.

The pair came together after spinner Mehedi Hasan got rid of Dimuth Karuna­ratne for a duck shortly after Bangladesh’s innings ended with skipper Mahmudullah Riyad unbeaten on 83.

De Silva led Sri Lanka’s batting charge with his aggressive approach and brought his fourth Test hundred off 122 balls with a cover drive off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.

This is de Silva’s second successive Test century after scoring an unbeaten 119 in Sri Lanka’s last match against India in New Delhi in December.

Bangladesh, who are now leading Sri Lanka by 326 runs, wasted two reviews against Mendis and also dropped two chances offered by the right-hander.

Mehedi dropped Mendis on four off paceman Mustafizur Rahman at second slip, before Imrul Kayes grassed another chance — this time off Mehedi’s bowling — with the batsman on 57.

The hosts, who resumed the day on 374-4, added 139 runs to their overnight score with Mahmudullah leading the charge on the second day.

Mahmudullah added 58 runs with debutant Sunza­mul Islam for the eighth wicket, after three quick wickets rattled the home side early in the morning.

Spinner Herath brought Mominul Haque’s majestic knock to an end in the third over of the day when the left-handed batsman flicked a catch to Mendis at forward short-leg. He made 176.

Mominul who hit 16 fours and a six, faced 214 balls and added just one run to his overnight score.

Herath struck again as Mosaddek Hossain lofted a catch to Lakshan Sandakan at mid-on after making just eight.

Mehedi took Bangladesh past 400 with a lovely straight drive off paceman Lakmal, before smashing Herath for a six.

But he was soon run out for 20 by Lahiru Kumara at third man.

Sunzamul made 24 runs before he was stumped off left-arm wrist spinner Sandakan.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 374-4):

Tamim Iqbal b D. Perera 52
Imrul Kayes lbw b Sandakan 40
M. Haque c Mendis b Herath 176
M. Rahim c D’wella b Lakmal 92
Liton Das b Lakmal 0
Mahmudllah not out 83
Mosaddek Hossain c S’kan b Herath 8
Mehedi Hasan run out 20
Sunzamul Islam St D’wella b S’kan 24
Taijul Islam b Herath 1
M’fizur Rahman c D’wella b Lakmal 8

EXTRAS (NB-4, W-5) 9

TOTAL (all out, 129.5 overs) 513

FALL OF WKTS: 1-72, 2-120, 3-356, 4-356, 5-376, 6-390, 7-417, 8-475, 9-478

BOWLING: Lakmal 23.4-4-68-3 (2nb, 1w); Kumara 15-1-79-0 (1w); D. Perera 27-4-112-1 (2nb); Herath 37-2-150-3; Sandakan 22-1-92-2 (3w); Dhananjaya 5-0-12-0

SRI LANKA (1st Innings):

D. Karunaratne c Kayes b Mehedi 0
K. Mendis not out 83
D. De Silva not out 104

EXTRAS 0

TOTAL (for one wkt, 48 overs) 187

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0

TO BAT: D. Chandimal, N. Dickwella, R. Silva, D. Perera, R. Herath, S. Lakmal, L. Sandakan, L. Kumara

BOWLING (to-date): Mustafizur 7-1-31-0; Sunzamul 15-1-52-0, Mehedi 8-0-45-1; Taijul 17-3-56-0; Mosaddek 1-0-3-0

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2018