Sri Lankans Reduce Bangladesh to 89 in the First Innings

Sri Lankan bowlers headed by ace spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan and seamers, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga demolished the Bangladeshi batting line up from 28/0 to 89-all out in the first day as they recorded their third lowest total in test matches.

Fernando removed key players such as Former captain Habibul Bashar and present skipper Mohammed Ashraful in his 3-33. Vaas and Malinga shared one wicket each.

Murali picked up his 58th five-wicket haul in tests as he crumbled the opposition in his seven overs, recording figures 5-15. He had 674 test wickets prior to this innings and he has now drawn 5 wickets closer to Shane Warne’s world record of the most number of test wickets (708).

In reply, the Sri Lankan debutant, Malinda Warnapura was trapped at ‘0’ for lbw by Shahadat Hossan as he ended his forgettable debut. Hossain bowled a fine spell in the early stages as he reduced the Sri Lankan side to 14/2.

The skipper, Mahela Jayawardene then built the innings with opener Michael Vandort. Jayawardene retired hurt on 93, just 7 runs short of his 17th test century. Soon after, Abdur Razzak picked up Chamara Silva for 1.

At the end of day 1, SL were 227/3 with Vandort on 87 not out.

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SL Cricket eye Rhodes and Blewett for Assistant Coach

Sri Lanka Cricket is considering South African Jonty Rhodes and Australia’s Greg Blewett as suitable candidates for the assistant coach position of the national cricket team.
A search for an assistant coach comes all of a sudden as former Sri Lankan fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake turned down the offer last week citing personal reasons.
The board will especially look at someone who was outstanding in his fielding as a cricketer.

Out of those shortlisted, Rhodes, 37, was regarded as one of the world’s best fielders during his 11-year career that ended in 2003 after 52 Tests and 245 One-Day Internationals.

Blewett, 35, played 46 Tests and 32 One-dayers for Australia from 1995 to 2000 before retiring from first-class cricket last month.
The appointed individual will be assisting Trevor Bayliss, the newly appointed Head Coach.

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