SL v BAN, 1st Test, Day 3 Review: Rahim hits 85, Sri Lanka take 182 runs lead

After making an impressive comeback on the 2nd day, Bangladesh yet again faltered on Day 3 and was bundled out for 312 in their 1st innings handing Sri Lanka a substantial lead of 181 runs. Rain played spoilsport as stumps were called early with Sri Lankan batsmen yet to come out in the middle.

Beginning the day at 133/2, the visitors lost in-form batsman Soumya Sarkar early in the day. It was a casual shot from the southpaw. It was a short delivery on the leg stump and Sarkar was in two minds whether to leave or pull. In the end, he attempted a pull very late off his hips. The ball flew straight to fine leg and was safely pouched by Lahiru Kumara.

Former captain Shakib Al Hasan joined current captain Mushfiqur Rahim in the middle. The naturally attacking southpaw began in a brisk fashion by smashing a four and six during his short stay. The southpaw was dismissed by chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan with a wrong un after the former made 23 of 19 deliveries. The dismissal was similar to that of Tamim’s dismissal. He got a faint tickle and the wicket-keeper took a great catch down the leg side.

With the score at 172/4, Mahmudullah joined Rahim in the middle and struck a boundary immediately. But after making an edgy 8 of 36 deliveries, the all-rounder was dismissed by Lahiru Kumara to reduce the visitors to 182/5 in the 63rd over. It was slightly wide of the crease and angled in at off stump. His feet remained stagnant and it jagged back sharply to disturb the top of the off stump.

Wicketkeeper Liton Das was dismissed cheaply too as the visitors struggled their way to 200 with the loss of 6 wickets. It was a loopy delivery outside the off stump and all Liton managed was to give a simple catch to the slip fielder. MUshfiqur Rahim who was at the other end played some delightful shots and was joined by teenager Mehedi Hasan in the middle.

Mehedi who earlier mentioned that he would like to call himself as a proper all-rounder did justice to his reputation as the youngster scored 41 and shared a valuable106 runs partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim for the 7th wicket. Both looked in complete control of proceedings and it looked the duo will take them within 100 runs of the Sri Lankan total.

Rahim smashed Herath for a big six in the 72nd over and added another boundary in the next over of Lakshan Sandakan. Mehedi Hasan also looked in good touch and drove pretty well. Boundaries came thick and fast as the Bangladesh duo looked to resurrect the innings with a counterattack. Mehedi was dismissed by Dilruwan Perera just after the visitors went past the follow-on target. The ball pitch outside the off and struck Mehedi dead straight. Rahim told him was plumb in front and there was no need for a review.

Taskin Ahmed was dismissed in the very next ball though the original decision was not out. It struck him adjacent to the stumps and despite the umpire ruling it in favour of the batting side, replays showed the ball would have crashed onto the stumps and the decision had to be overturned. Rahim fell 15 runs short of the elusive three-figure as he went for a big shot. He missed the delivery from Rangana Herath completely and it disturbed the timbers.

The Bangladesh innings finally came to an end with the wicket of Mustafizur Rahman as the visitors were bowled out for 312. Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera were the chief destructors for Sri Lanka with 3 wickets each. Sri Lanka will bat tomorrow after no more play was possible following heavy rain in Galle.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka 1st innings 494 all-out (Kusal Mendis 194, Mehedi Hasan 4/113)

Bangladesh 1st innings 312 all-out (Mushfiqur Rahim 85, Dilruwan Perera 3/53)

Sri Lanka lead by 182 runs