Herath five proves green top a myth
View(s):Sri Lanka-Bangladesh second Test match at the R. Premadasa Stadium
By Daminda Wijesuriya
Which was claimed to be seamer friendly wicket, Sri Lanka fielded three pacemen but it was left arm orthodox spinner, Rangana Herath who subdued the Bangladeshi batsmen. Heart retuned with five for 68 to restrict them 240, just before close, on the first day’s play of the second cricket test that began at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, yesterday.
In reply, Sri Lanka was 18 for one wicket at close. One of the first Test centurions — Tillakaratne Dilshan went for a dreadful square cut only to edge into the gloves of the Bangladesh wicket keeper, Mushfiqur Raheem, for no score.
Herath, who even impressed on that heart breaking strip at Galle, kept a tidy length especially in the post lunch session and that prompted his skipper Mathews to request him to share the second new ball with Nuwan Kulasekara, after the 80th over. The right arm-left arm combination polished Bangladesh tail in 21 balls and Herath took his test wicket tally to 193. This is the 14th time that Herath claimed five or more wickets in a test innings.
In stark contrast to usual Sri Lankan style of playing test cricket, hosts won the toss and elected to bowl first on a green top track which looked menacing. However, the hosting skipper showed lack of confidence in his pacemen.
Mathews introduced himself into to the attack after two Suranga Lakmal overs which cost only one run and he too bowled only three overs before introducing Shaminda Eranga into the attack. None of them could make use of the seaming conditions in the first two hours.
Despite a needless run out of Mohammed Ashraful, who was untroubled during his 75 minutes stay at the crease, the visitors had lunch with 62 runs on the board, having lost only two wickets.
Twenty-one-year-old Left hander, Mominul Haque who is playing only his second test match scored a stylish 64, to keep Sri Lankan bowlers working hard for their wickets. His 98 ball innings was terminated by Rangana Herath with a superb delivery that went away from the batsman.
Bangladesh innings was built around Mominul Haque and Nasir Hossain who made a useful 48 before being trapped LBW by Herath for 48.
Sri Lanka’s winning streak against Bangladesh was halted last week in Galle but the hosts need to win this match if they want to keep the winning record intact as far as a series is concerned.
Pic by Shantha Ratnayake
| ScoreboardBangladesh 1st innings: Tamim Iqbal lbw b Kulasekara 10 Jahurul Islam c Chandimal b Eranga 33 Mohammad Ashraful run out 16 Mominul Haque c Chandimal b Herath 64 Mohammad Mahmudullah c Mathews b Herath 8 Mushfiqur Rahim b Herath 7 Nasir Hossain lbw b Herath 48 Sohag Gazi st Chandimal b Herath 32 Abul Hasan c Karunaratne b Kulasekara 4 Rubel Hossain c Herath b Kulasekara 0 Robiul Islam not out 1 Extras (lb8, nb2, w7) 17 Total (all out; 83.3 overs) 240 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Tamim), 2-51 (Ashraful), 3-100 (Jahurul), 4-128 (Mahmudullah), 5-152 (Rahim), 6-163 (Mominul), 7-222 (Gazi), 8-232 (Hasan), 9-232 (Rubel), 10-240 (Nasir). Bowling: Kulasekara 18-3-54-3 (nb1), Lakmal 16-4-44-0 (w6), Mathews 3-1-7-0, Eranga 14-2-40-1 (nb1, w1), Herath 28.3-6-68-5, Dilshan 4-0-19-0. Sri Lanka 1st innings: D. Karunaratne not out 12 T. Dilshan c Rahim b Robiul 0 K. Sangakkara not out 3 Extras (nb3) 3 Total (for one wicket; 4 overs) 18 Fall of wicket: 1-7 (Dilshan) Bowling: Robiul 2-0-12-1 (nb3), Gazi 2-1-6-0 Toss: Sri Lanka |
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