Sri Lanka record comprehensive victory against Bangladesh

Sri Lanka recorded an innings and 234-run comprehensive victory in their first test against the Bangladesh team yesterday, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.

The determination and resistance shown by the top-order Bangladeshi batsmen were all in vain, as the middle and lower order collapsed in no time. Finishing day 3 on 233/5, the Bangladesh team still had time to put up a good show, even if that meant defeat.

Having to end day 3 early because of bad light, the match started a half an hour early on day 4. Lasith Malinga continued with his balling as he had an incomplete over from the previous day. His first delivery was quick to go down to the boundary indicating the intentions of the Bangladeshi middle order.

Yet, it didn’t take too long for a yorker from Malinga to remove the out-of-form Khaled Mashud. Soon after Mashrafe Mortaza was trapped for leg before by Muttiah Muralitharan. The three remaining wickets followed the same fate, as the Sri Lankans wrapped up the match in just half an hour. No other bowler was even needed. Malinga- Murali pace-spin combination did the job for Sri Lanka. Malinga bowled superbly picking up 4-80. The ever brilliant Murali increased his wicket tally to 683 taking 4-87. The spin king who was also adjudged Man-of-the-Match is now only 25 away from equaling Australian Shane Warne’s World Record.

So, the Bangladeshis have yet again failed to deliver and lost another test match, their 41st defeat in test history. The Sri Lankans have improved since their last test encounter as they completed the highest victory (in terms of the margin), against the Bangladesh team, surpassing their previous first, of an innings and 196 runs in 2002.

The next test is scheduled to commence on the 3rd of July at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.

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Bangladesh bat through Day 3

Bangladesh batsmen frustated the Sri Lankan bowlers, finishing on 233/5 at the end of day 3.

The two openers Javed Omar and Shahriar Nafees got on to a brilliant start in a 86-run partnership for the first wicket. Nafees hit 38 before falling to a Muralitharan delivery caught by Murali himself. Bangladesh made sure that they didn’t lose wickets at regular intervals unlike their first innings when they were bowled out for a paltry 89. Partially helped by a no-ball filled poor balling by the Sri Lankans, Bangladesh clearly dominated in the pre-lunch session.

Both Omar and middle order batsman Rajin Saleh hit half centuries. Saleh was finally removed just one run after making his 50, by Tillekaratne Dilshan caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip. It was a breakthrough that Sri Lanka much needed.

Murali then struck with his spin picking up the wicket of Captain Mohammed Ashraful on 37. This takes his wicket tally up to 681, only 27 short of passing the world record made by Shane Warne.

Vaas and Malinga, after a continous shower of no-balls in the first session, came back strong later in the day by taking one wicket each.

Bangladesh now have to make 255 to avoid an innings defeat. The Test still has two days left, but unpredictable weather could be a factor, so the Sri Lankans might look to finish off on day 4 itself. On the other hand, the Bangladeshis have made a good fightback after their awful performance in the first innings, and will look to continue the same form.

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