Sri Lanka has sunk deeper. After being able to take just 3 wickets on the first day against Bangladesh, the hosts were able to claim 6 more wickets on the second day. Some of it was because rain halted play in the second session. Galle saw no action for over 2 hours but things hadn’t been great before the stoppage.
Asitha and Tharindu keep Sri Lanka afloat
Although Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had departed for a well-made 148, wicketkeeper Liton Das joined Mushfiqur Rahim, and they continued to torment Sri Lankan bowlers. Before tea, only one wicket had fallen in 40.2 overs, and 131 runs were scored. That sole wicket was taken by Asitha Fernando.
After play resumed, Sri Lanka continued to struggle. It wasn’t until the 141st over that Asitha got Mushfiqur for 163. Tharindu Ratnayake got Liton’s wicket in the next over, as he missed a well-deserved hundred by just 10 runs. At this point, 6 wickets had fallen and all were claimed by Asitha and Tharindu.
Milan Rathnayake takes 3 quick wickets
Luckily for Sri Lanka, Milan Rathnayake claimed the next three wickets of Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, and Nayeem Hasan in the final hour of play, which was extended until 6:30 PM due to the previous rain interruption. The pitch had started to do a bit for the pacers after play resumed and Asitha and Milan both made full use of the opportunity.
From 458/5, Bangladesh has all of a sudden slumped to 484/9. The score of five hundred looked a dead certainty. But the weather had aided Sri Lanka to keep the visitors under the big mark. Milan was hunting for a fourth wicket and wrapping the first innings before bad light played spoilsport and the second day had to be called off.
In the end, just 61 overs were bowled, 192 runs were scored and 6 wickets fell on day 2. But it’ll be the Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara who will be feeling happy. With less than 30 minutes of play left, had they been called out to bat with clouds overhead and the ball doing a bit, they may have departed.
Bangladesh may have already gotten more runs than required, and tomorrow might be an uphill battle for Sri Lankan batters if rain and light don’t cause any problems.
