Sri Lankan continue domination on day 3

The Sri Lankan batsmen continued to dominate as they finished the third day on high note scoring 504 for 3 in reply to a Bangladesh massive first innings total in the first Test of the two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Friday.

Bangladesh bowlers had another tough day on the field as Sri Lanka  dominated the third day and trailed by nine runs with seven wickets in hand.

After overnight centurion Dhananjaya de Silva, other overnight batsman Kusal Mendis also joined the party hitting his fourth Test century on his birthday as Lankan batsmen dominated the batting paradise wicket frustrating the Tigers bowlers, after Sri Lanka resumed their first innings on the third day with overnight score at 187 for 1. 

Sri Lankan completely dominated the first session and went to lunch without any further damage. But soon after the lunch break Sri Lanka lost two wickets in the second session and went to tea with 416 for 3.

Pacer Mustafizur Rahman however, able to broke the stubborn 307-run partnership just after the lunch break removing 26-year-old spin all-rounder Dhananjaya. The right handed batsman Dhananjaya, who played a classy 173 runs off 229 balls laced with 21 boundaries and one over boundary before giving a catch to Liton Das.

Mendis was looking solid with bat and was no mood to present his wicket as he continued to stretch his innings. But, he finally feel to Taijul before scoring a polish 196 runs off 327 balls, an innings that studded with 23 boundaries and two over boundaries. 

Later, an unbeaten 89-run partnership between Roshen Silva and skipper Dinesh Chandimal in the 4th wicket steered Sri Lanka to finish the day in a strong position.

Silva added just 13 runs far from century stayed on the crease along with his skipper Chandimal who was also 37 as the stumps were drawn for the day.

Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam shared one wicket each conceding 88, 97 and 144 runs respectively. 

Brief score: Bangladesh 1st innings - 513 for all, Mominul 176, Mushfiqur 92, Mahmudullah 83 n.o, Sunzamul 24, Mehidy 20, Lakmal 3/68, Herath 3/150 and Sandakan 2/92.

Sri Lankan 1st innings - 504 for 3, Mendis 196, Dhananjaya 173, Roshen 87  batting, Chandimal 37 batting, Mustafizur 1/88, Miraz 1/97, Taijul 1/144.

Source: BSS