Shadman guides Bangladesh with two wickets before lunch
Shadman guides Bangladesh with two wickets before lunch
SL vs BAN, 2nd Test: Shadman Islam anchored a solid start to build Bangladesh’s innings, ending with 46 runs in 93 balls. Number 3 batter, Mominul Haque once again failed to capitalise his solid start after the openers' failure.
Bangladesh made a slow and careful start on the opening morning of the second Test in Colombo. At lunch, they had reached 71 for 2, scoring at just under 3 runs an over. Shadman Islam looked solid, batting on 43 off 86 balls, while Najmul Hossain Shanto was on 7 from 21 deliveries. The two had stitched together a partnership worth 28 runs off 59 balls. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, Asitha Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva, picked up one wicket each before the break.
Anamul Haque was the first batter to fall. He chopped a ball onto his stumps that nipped back off a good length his second duck in his last three innings. His struggles in Test cricket continued, despite his impressive domestic record. He had two close calls earlier in the over too one edge barely reached Kusal Mendis at slip, and another fell just short of the fielder.
After Anamul’s early dismissal, Shadman and Mominul Haque tried to settle things down with a 38-run stand. They showed good control against the moving ball and looked to start attacking. However, just when things were getting better, Mominul gifted his wicket by chipping a simple catch to short cover off a gentle delivery outside off stump.
Most of the damage control was done by being patient. Bangladesh batted cautiously, playing out a total of 116 dot balls in the session. They also struggled to rotate strike, picking up only 29 singles. Instead, they relied heavily on boundaries, which accounted for 40 of the 71 runs.
Sri Lanka’s spinners came into the spotlight again. Tharindu Rathnayake, who was expensive in the previous match, gave away 22 runs in 5 overs this morning. He did manage to get some balls to spin sharply past the left-hander’s off stump when he slowed down his pace, but lacked consistency. A few chances didn’t go his way a thick edge didn’t carry, and an aerial drive flew just out of reach.
Team selections before the match had hinted at the possibility of more pace bowling, but both sides eventually chose spin-heavy lineups. For Bangladesh, Nayeem Hasan kept his place even though Mehidy Hasan Miraz returned, meaning Jaker Ali had to sit out. Seamer Hasan Mahmud was ruled out with a minor injury, so Ebadot Hossain came in.
Sri Lanka made a few changes of their own. They handed a debut to Sonal Dinusha, a spin-bowling allrounder, adding more depth to a spin attack that already had Prabath Jayasuriya, Tharindu Rathnayake, and Dhananjaya de Silva. Vishwa Fernando also returned to the XI, replacing the injured Milan Rathnayake.
The first session didn’t have fireworks, but it set the stage for an interesting day. Bangladesh will now hope their batters can push on and turn this steady start into a strong first-innings total.