Dhaka, Feb 3 (Just News) : Bangladesh lost three wickets in final hour on the fourth day to stare at defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Chittagong on Saturday.
The hosts reached 81-3 at stumps still needing 119 to bat Sri Lanka again after the visiting side declared their first innings with 713-9, replying to Bangladesh’s 513 runs.
Dilruwan Perera dismissed opener Imrul Kayes for 19 before Lakshan Sandakan took the important wicket of Tamim Iqbal, who made 41.
Rangana Herath delivered a huge blow on the home side when he removed Mushfiqur Rahim for two in the final over of the day.
Sri Lanka declared their innings third over into the final session after left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took two wickets off his successive overs.
Taijul bowled 67.3 overs, the maximum by a Bangladeshi bowler in a Test innings and he also became the first Bangladesh bowler to concede over 200 runs before finishing with 4-219.
Taijul earlier bowled Dinesh Chandimal for 87 off before off-spinner Mehedi Hasan removed Niroshan Dickwella for 62 to slow down Sri Lanka's progress.
Debutant left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam then got his maiden Test wicket, trapping Dilruwan Perera leg-before for 32.
Roshen Silva joined the run fest in the morning session to post his maiden Test century after Sri Lanka resumed on 504-3.
He made 109 off 230 balls before becoming the first batsman dismissed on the day.
Silva was Sri Lanka's third centurion of the innings after Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 196 and 173 runs respectively.
Mehedi ended Silva's impressive innings when the right-hander edged a low delivery to wicketkeeper Liton Das.
Silva shared a 135-run stand with skipper Dinesh Chandimal for the fourth wicket and hit six fours and a six.
Bangladesh had the chance to dismiss Chandimal on 79 but Liton dropped a catch down the leg side off Mehedi.
The off-spinner was at fault a few overs later when he could not get his hand on to an edge by Dickwella off Taijul Islam and the ball raced for four.
Dickwella made Bangladesh pay for the miss as he hit the next two balls for fours, the second one taking Sri Lanka past 600 runs.
(Just News/ak/2205hr.)
