Silva fifty puts SL on top in second Test

By AFP

February 10, 2018

DHAKA: Roshen Silva hit an unbeaten half-century to put Sri Lanka in command of the second Test after stretching their lead to 312 against Bangladesh here on Friday.

The visitors reached 200-8 at stumps on day two in their second innings. The batting effort came after debutant spinner Akila Dananjaya led an inspirational attack to dismiss Bangladesh for 110 in the morning session.

Silva was batting on 58, his second fifty in the game, which came amid a regular fall of wickets on what seemed a difficult batting pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.The highest successful run-chase at the ground is England’s 209-1 against the hosts in 2010.

“I don’t think it is possible to get more than 300 runs on this wicket. It is common sense but cricket is a funny game,” Silva told reporters.“We bowled them out for 100 and we wanted to get more than 300-plus runs actually.

“We passed it,” added Silva, playing just his third Test since his debut in India last year.Suranga Lakmal, who claimed three wickets with his pace bowling, was keeping Silva company on seven as the islanders kept building on their sizable first-innings lead of 112.

Paceman Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets while spinners Taijul Islam and Mehedi Hasan Miraz claimed two each.Opener Kusal Mendis was out early after veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak trapped the batsman leg-before for seven.

Left-handed opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who made 32, and Dhananjaya de Silva, who hit 28, got starts but failed to convert them into bigger scores.Silva got to the grind building crucial partnerships including a 51-run fifth-wicket stand with skipper Dinesh Chandimal, who made 30. The first Test ended in a draw in Chittagong.

Sri Lanka won toss

Sri Lanka 1st innings 222 all-out (K Mendis 68; Razzak 4-63)Bangladesh 1st innings 110 all-out (Mehidy Hasan Miraz* 38; A Dananjaya 3-20)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings

F D M Karunaratne c Imrul b Mehidy 32

B K G Mendis lbw b Razzak 7

D M de Silva b Taijul 28

M D Gunathilaka lbw b Mustafizur 17

*L D Chandimal lbw b Mehidy 30

A R S Silva not out 58

†N Dickwella c Mahmudullah b Taijul 10

M D K Perera c Liton b Mustafizur 7

A Dananjaya c Liton b Mustafizur 0