Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Day 2: 5 Talking Points

After a brilliant start in the 1st innings, visitors Bangladesh surrendered their advantage as the 2nd day of the 2nd Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ended with both teams sharing the honours. Earlier in the day, Dinesh Chandimal roared back to form with a brilliant century which helped the hosts to post a competitive 338 on the board.

The Bangladesh openers got the visitors off to a brilliant start as Bangladesh were comfortably placed at 192/2 in one stage. But during the last half hour forty-five minutes, the visitors lost 3 quick wickets which reduced them to 214/5 at the end of the day. It was a hard fought day and the visitors will be disappointed to let the Sri Lankans off the hook with a flurry of wickets.

That said here we have a look at 5 Talking Points from the 2nd day’s play at the P Sara Oval in Colombo

1. Dinesh Chandimal smashes 8th Test century

Veteran batsman Dinesh Chandimal announced his return to form with a brilliant century against Bangladesh in the 2nd Test at Colombo which helped the hosts to recover from their early slump and post a decent total in their 1st innings. Beginning the day on 86, Chandimal looked in complete control and rotated the strike with singles and doubles. He smashed the first boundary of the day in the 93rd over of Subhasis Roy.

He completed his 8th Test century in the 95th over of Taijul Islam with an inside edge which rolled the past the gap between cover and point. He whipped Mustafizur Rahman for a brilliant six over the backward square leg region and also struck some boundaries after completing his century. He was dismissed by Mehedi Hasan in the 106th over in an attempt to play the big shot.

2. Solid partnership by Bangladesh openers

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar continued their brilliant form even in the 2nd Test and got the visitors of to a solid start in the 1st innings. The duo was brilliant during their 95 runs opening partnership and was hardly troubled by any of the Sri Lankan bowlers. Tamim began with a boundary of Dilruwan Perera in the 4th over while Sarkar struck his first boundary in the 6th over.

They looked in complete control of proceedings and ticked along the scoreboard with singles and doubles and occasional boundaries. The duo brought up their 50 runs stand in the 18th over and looked well set for a century partnership. But with the score at 95, Tamim was dismissed by rival captain Rangana Herath as the southpaw was struck plumb in front from a straighter one from the veteran left-arm spinner.

Also read: Twitter Reactions: Smith-Maxwell dominate Indian bowlers on Day 1

3. Sabbir Rahman plays a gutsy knock

Middle order batsman Sabbir Rahman made a stroke-filled 42 of 54 deliveries during the 2nd day before giving away his wickets in the dying stages of the day to surrender the advantage to Sri Lanka. The hard-hitter came out in the middle in the 42nd with the fall of Soumya Sarkar’s wicket. He began with a scorching cover drive of Lakshan Sandakan in his first delivery he faced.

His 2nd boundary also came off the bowling of Sandakan and followed it up with a fierce square cut of Suranga Lakmal. He had a lapse in concentration following two quick wickets and eventually gave away his wicket in the 58th over to Suranga Lakmal to reduce the visitors to 198/5 in the 58th over.

4.  Good review was taken by Sri Lanka

The Bangladesh openers got the visitors off to a brilliant start before a late slump tilted the scales in favour of the hosts at the end of the 2nd day’s play in Colombo. Lakshan Sandakan was in middle of a terrific spell when the hosts took a terrific review to give him his 3rd wicket. Sandakan dismissed the well-set Imrul Kayes in the 57th over with a wrong un and followed it up with another wicket in the very next delivery of the over.

It was another wrong un as night watchman Taijul Islam lent forward to defend the delivery. He missed it completely and the ball thudded on to his pads. The onfield umpire gave it not out but the Sri Lanka went for the review and it was the correct call from Rangana Herath. Replays showed the ball would have crashed onto middle and leg which gave Sri Lanka their 4th wicket.

5.  Great spell by Lakshan Sandakan

The left-arm chinaman bowler has been quite brilliant in the series so far and yet again showed his prowess on the 2nd day of the 2nd Test in Colombo today. He gave crucial breakthroughs to the home team which helped them end the day in an advantageous position. He began with the wicket of Soumya Sarkar in the 42nd over after Bangladesh had got off to a rollicking start.

It was a perfectly tossed up delivery and Sarkar was deceived in the flight. He was lured into the drive and didn’t account for the turn. The ball went past his inside edge through the big gap between his bat and the pad and disturbed the timbers. His next 2 wickets also came with wrong uns as both Imrul Kayes and Taijul Islam failed to read his variations. He eventually finished with impressive figures of 3/64 in 15 overs.