Mathews, Karunaratne deny Bangladesh on rain-hit day
A resolute batting of the Sri Lanka top order batters denied Bangladesh taking the advantage despite a superb bowling of Shakib Al Hasan on day three of the second Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Shakib finished the rain-interrupted day with 3-59 but more often beat the bat without any luck.
Sri Lanka reached 282-5, weathering the first innings deficit to 83 before the bad light brought a premature end to the day.
Bangladesh were shot out for 365 with Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 175 and Liton Das scoring 141.
Angelo Mathews who scored 199 in the first test was batting on 58 with Dinesh Chandimal on 10, keeping Sri Lanka's hope to take a first innings lead alive.
A spell of shower however washed out the whole post lunch session but that couldn't dent the concentration of the Sri Lanka batters.
Sri Lanka resumed the day on 143-2 but lost nightwatchman Kasun Rajitha with the second delivery of the day when paceman Ebadot Hossain (2-78) bowled him with an express delivery.
Overnight unbeaten batter Karunaratne appeared to take the game away from Bangladesh as he came out from the shell to go after the bowlers in aggressive fashion.
Before he could do further damage, Shakib struck with a superb delivery, spinning one past his bat sharply to rattle the stump and Sri Lanka slipped to 164-5.
Karunaratne hit nine fours for his 80 off 155.
Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva steadied the innings as Bangladesh sensed a chance to put them on top.
De Silva who played in aggressive fashion cut paceman Khaled Ahmed past point for a boundary to raise his 10th fifty off 90 balls.
But soon after that Shakib reviewed a decision successfully to dismiss him for 58, brining an end to the 102-run partnership.
Mathews who was in defensive mood throughout the day raised his 38th half- century from 125 balls with a six from a delivery of Shakib just before the stumps.
With Shakib beating the bat more often, Mathews and Chandimal resisted with utmost confidence to see off the day without any damage.
Source: BSS
