BAN vs SL, 1st Test, Day 4, Review: Bangladesh lose 3 early wickets after the visitors post 713

Sri Lanka hold all the aces after the play on the fourth day against Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series in Chittagong. The visitors racked up the runs in their first innings and took the lead exactly of 200 runs scoring a mammoth 713 for the loss of nine wickets. They also picked up three wickets in the final session of the hosts which left them tottering in the end. However, Bangladesh still trail by 119 runs in the second innings to make their opponents bat again and their backs are against the wall now.

The openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes started off confidently after being on the field for almost 200 overs. The former once again accumulated quick runs and was dismissed in the final stages of the day off Lakshan Sandakan. Kayes was also sent back before that with Dilruwan Perera foxing him with his off-spin as the pitch had started to show its colour. Though the killer blow came off the penultimate delivery of the day when Rangana Herath’s arm ball was caught at silly mid-off by Kusal Mendis which came off the boot of Mushfique Rahim.

Bangladesh ended the day on 81/3 in the 27th over and they have to show plenty of grit on the fifth day to emerge unscathed from this match. The pitch is assisting spinners a lot more now and all the three frontline spinners of  Sri Lanka have got a wicket each.

What happened earlier?

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka piled on the agony for the home side and continuing batting time. Roshen Silva and Dinesh Chandimal, the overnight batsmen, scored freely with the bowling being flat. The former notched up his maiden Test hundred and soaked in the applause of the scarce crowd present in the stadium. But was soon dismissed on 109 by Mehidy Hasan to give some relief to his team. Niroshan Dickwella then joined in and had some more fun pummelling the tired bowlers.

He scored 62 runs off just 61 deliveries and helped the visitors grow their lead which looked like a substantial one. Chandimal, on the other hand, was sent back in the first over after the lunch who missed out to become the fourth centurion of the innings. He made 87 runs and amazingly hit just three boundaries during his stay in the middle. The duo of Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath also had some fun scoring 32 and 24 runs respectively which swelled the lead up to 200 runs.

Finally, when Taijul Islam castled Suranga Lakmal for 9, Chandimal felt it was enough and declared on the mammoth total of 713/9 in the 200th over. Taijul was the most successful bowler and picked four wickets but had to bowl 67.3 overs conceding 219 runs. Mehidy Hasan scalped three and leaked 174 runs.

The fascinating fifth day is coming up as Sri Lanka would back themselves to clean up the remaining seven wickets of the home team and complete a fantastic comeback into this Test match.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh 513 (M Haque 176, M Rahim 92, Mahmudullah 83*; S Lakmal 3/68, R Herath 3/150) & 81/3 (T Iqbal 41; L Sandakan 1/3)

Sri Lanka 713/9decl (K Mendis 196, De Silva 173, R Silva 109; T Islam 4/219, M Hasan 3/174)