Bangladesh off to a good start after Sri Lanka’s 397

Bangladesh finished day two on 76/0, 321 runs behind Sri Lanka, as Angelo Mathews just missed out on a double-century.

Bangladesh started well in their first innings after bowling Sri Lanka out for 397 in the last session of day two, with both openers unbeaten at the crease with the score at 76/0.

The visitors’ momentum was carried forward by Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, who batted for most of the opening session on day two.

The pacers from Bangladesh struggled with the new ball, which they had received in the closing session of day one.

On 119, however, Mathews almost avoided a near call when Khaled Ahmed got an outside edge that went missed by both the bowler and the wicketkeeper.

Mathews then got three boundaries from the pacers and finished the morning session unbeaten on 147.

Chandimal, on the other hand, batted consistently and reached his 21st Test half-century.

Chandimal attacked Taijul Islam after the milestone to gather boundaries, but his aggressive attitude backfired when he saw himself reverse sweeping Nayeem.

On 66, the off-spinner had him lbw, and the new hitter Niroshan Dickwella was removed for 3 in the same over.

Bangladesh battled their way back into the game with two fast wickets immediately before the lunch break, exposing Sri Lanka’s tail after a difficult morning session.

Sri Lanka reached lunch on 327/6 thanks to new batsman Ramesh Mendis (1*) and Mathews (147*).

Shakib Al Hasan took two wickets in the first over of the session after lunch. The left-arm spinner knocked Ramesh Mendis out for 1 and Lasith Embuldeniya lbw for a duck on the next ball.

Soon after, Mathews made 150 runs and then formed an important partnership with new batsman Vishwa Fernando, ensuring Sri Lanka did not lose any more wickets in the afternoon session, reaching tea at 375/8.

After the tea break, Mathews and Asitha Fernando stepped out into the middle, as Vishwa Fernando was forced to withdraw due to a blow to his helmet near the end of the second session.

Asitha Fernando perished against a routine off-spin delivery from Nayeem after evading a run-out in the first over after tea.

The off-spinner secured his third Test five-wicket haul with the dismissal of Asitha Fernando.

With Mathews 8 runs short of his double century, Vishwa Fernando returned to the middle.

Mathews edged closer to his double century with a boundary off Taijul, but the disappointment came when he dropped a straightforward catch off Nayeem to square leg on 199.

Nayeem’s best-ever Test bowling stats of 6/105 came with the wicket of Mathews.

In the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23, Mathews’ stunning knock of 199 was the second-highest score.

Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, the two Bangladesh openers, got off to a great start in the last session, accumulating 76 runs for the first wicket.

Both Tamim (35*) and Joy (31*) stayed solid at the crease as the Sri Lankan bowlers failed to trouble them. Bangladesh will start day three 321 runs behind Sri Lanka.