Twitter Reactions: Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne make Bangladesh bowlers toil on opening day

The second Test in Pallekele started off in the fashion the opening Test got underway. The bowlers had a tough day in the office as Sri Lanka racked up 291 for the loss of only one wicket in their 90 overs. On Thursday, April 29, Bangladesh bowlers had to work out of their skins to keep the batters in check. The visitors used five specialist bowlers but didn’t have much to cheer for on the day.

Karunaratne, Thirimanne make hay

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Lankans didn’t face any troubles whatsoever. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne started from where he left in the first Test and kept milking the Tigers’ bowling without much fuss. He got to his half-century off 111 balls and the Lankans went into lunch with their score at 66 for no loss in 27 overs. Thirimanne put his head down for a big knock with the bat.

In the post-lunch session, the hosts didn’t lose a wicket either. Karunaratne went from strength to strength and got to his century off 165 balls. It was evident that the Lankan captain had pushed the accelerator as his second set of 50 runs came off 54 balls with six fours. After the second session, Thirimanne held his ground as well, staying unbeaten on 80 runs, and lending his skipper support.

Shoriful makes a breakthrough for Bangladesh

With the home team at 188 for no loss after two sessions, another long session awaited Bangladesh. But five overs into the last session, Shoriful Islam, who made his Test debut, gave the Tigers some breather. He found Karunaratne’s outside edge in the 64th over to give his team the first breakthrough. Shoriful bowled 16 overs on the day and gave 52 runs to go with three maiden overs.

He also had a decision overturned at the fag end of the day after the on-field umpire gave Thirimanne out initially. Karunaratne went on to score 118 off 190 balls with 15 fours. In the meantime, Thirimanne reached his ton off 212 balls and he stayed not out on 131. The southpaw got the apt support from Oshada Fernando, who stayed unbeaten on a 98-ball 40 with four fours.

Here’s how the netizens reacted:

On a day in Pallekele when a single wicket fell, it was a 19-year-old speedster, who got his special moment on his Test debut. Congrats Shoriful Islam for opening your account with Dimuth Karunaratne's scalp. #SLvBAN #SLvsBAN #Bangladesh

— Sabyasachi Chowdhury (@sabya0912) April 29, 2021

SL skipper Dimuth Karunaratne became the 10th player in Sri Lanka to pass 5,000 Test runs today. #SLvBAN

— Jegan Ganeshan (@imjeganG) April 29, 2021

After 4 scores of 50+, Lahiru Thirimanne gets test century. He also crosses 2000 test runs. #SLvBAN

— Arpit Rastogi 🏏 (@arptrastogi) April 29, 2021

2021 is so weird that even Lahiru Thirimanne is scoring runs. #SLvBAN

— Abhijit Nair (@Abhiee0312) April 29, 2021

Lahiru Thirimanne Shines as Test opener.#SLvBAN @OfficialSLC

— X-Ray (@_XRay__) April 29, 2021

3 – Dimuth Karunaratne (@OfficialSLC) has now scored 3 Test centuries in 2021, no batsman has recorded more (level with Joe Root). Runs. #SLvBAN

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) April 29, 2021

Dimuth Karunaratne & Lahiru Thirimane have become only the 2nd pair of Sri Lankan openers to score a century in the same innings of a Test Match.

Marvin Attapatu & Sanath Jayasuriya have done it twice for Sri Lanka before (v PAK & v ZIM).#SLvBAN

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) April 29, 2021

Dimuth Karunaratne In Test Series:

1st Test – 244(437)

2nd Test – 118(190) TODAY #SLvBAN #TestCricket

— Rajesh Khilare (@Cricrajeshpk) April 29, 2021

Lahiru Thirimanne in his last 6 Test innings, 130* (today), 58, 39, 55, 76, 70.

He has been in an exceptional form since the home series against England this year wherein he scored a hundred. However, his career batting average will tell you another story. #SLvsBAN

— Sritama Panda//Donald Tiripano stan (@cricketpun_duh) April 29, 2021

Some won't want to hear this but
Lahiru Thirimanne is one of the form test bats in the world right now.
Averages over 50 in the 12 innings he's played since Jan.#SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/CxqHriVMVl

— Mark Machado – Deportivo Lankan (@MarkMachado) April 29, 2021

101 v WI in 4th inns (North Sound, 2021)
114 v BAN in 2nd inns (Pallekele, 2021)
188* v BAN in 1st inns (Pallekele, TODAY)

Dimuth Karunaratne & Lahiru Thirimanne become the FIRST ever Sri Lankan opening pair to score century partnerships in 3 consecutive Test matches.#SLvsBAN

— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) April 29, 2021