Twitter Reactions: Taskin Ahmed breathes fire as Sri Lanka continue run-fest on rain-marred day

Bangladesh had more reasons to cheer on the second day of the ongoing Test in Pallekele. However, overall, Sri Lanka would be the happier side as they stand on 469 for six wickets in 155.5 overs.

Had it not been for the rain interruption in the last session, Dimuth Karunaratne and Co could well have breached the 500-run mark. The Tigers’ bowlers came out all guns blazing on the second day.

Taskin Ahmed bowls with heart

Taskin Ahmed was hard done by on the first day as two catches were dropped off his bowling. But in the opening session, he ran in with all his might. To start with, he removed opening batter Lahiru Thirimanne, who was batting on 140 with 15 fours.

A couple of overs later, he accounted for the wicket of Angelo Mathews, who missed out yet another time on a batting strip after failing in the first Test. Mathews had gotten a lifeline when the Bangladesh fielders didn’t appeal after he got an outside edge to keeper Liton Das.

After the early wickets of Thirimanne and Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva followed suit as well. Taijul Islam backed up Taskin’s fiery spell with De Silva’s wicket. From 291 for one in 90 overs, the home team was reduced to 328 for four in a space of only 21.5 overs.

Dickwella guides Sri Lanka through

After the flurry of wickets, Pathum Nissanka and Niroshan Dickwella steadied the ship for the hosts. At lunch, the Lankans were at 334 for four and needed to rebuild their innings. The duo put on 74 runs for the fifth wicket stand. Just when the partnership was starting to look ominous, Taskin rattled his woodwork.

Nissanka had gotten his eyes in after scoring 30 runs off 84 balls with three fours. At the other end, Dickwella went on to notch a half-century off a mere 48 balls, putting the pressure back on the Bangladesh bowlers.

Even as he took the attacking route, his partner Ramesh Mendis put his head down to lend the left-hander support. At the close of play on the second day. Dickwella stayed unbeaten on a run-a-ball 64 with Mendis batting on 22. Only 4.3 overs were possible in the last session due to rain.

Here’s how the netizens reacted: