DHANANJAYA AND PRABATH STRIKE
By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka was poised for victory in the second test match with Bangladesh reeling on 115 for 6 wickets in the second innings in the face of a demoralising 247 first innings deficit and still 96 behind as the Lankan bowlers led by skipper Dhananjaya de Silva 2 for 13 and Prabath Jayasuriya 2 for 47 broke the back of the touring team’s batting in maximising a 458 first innings leverage heightened by a scintillating 84 off 87 balls by Kusal Mendis consuming 127 minutes smashing 8 boundaries and 2 sixes on a dramatic third day’s play at the SSC Grounds on Friday.
The rot set in for Bangladesh as they lost both openers Anamul Haque and Shadman Islam with the score on 31 in the space of three balls with quick Asitha Fernando having Haque caught by substitute fielder Pavan Rathnayake for 19 – 31 for 1 after 6.5 overs – and Prabath Jayasuriya came into his own from a long slumber to having Shadman Islam caught by Igalagamage. When skipper Dhananjaya de Silva produced a superb delivery to having Monimul Haque lobbing it to Kamindu Mendis into the fourth ball of the 19th over Bangladesh had skidded to 63 for 3, and when he beat the bat of his opposite number Najmul Hossain Shanto trapping him plumb leg before wicket de Silva had struck a massive blow for Sri Lanka with Bangladesh in deep trouble with four wickets gone for 70 after 22.4 overs.
And there followed Prabath Jayasuriya 12 overs later striking a lethal blow clean bowling Mushfiqur Rahim to putting out of action Bangladesh’s most experienced ace in the pack with a peach of a delivery beaten all ends up as the gangling six footer suddenly found quicksilver off a waning surface into the afternoon of the third day as he conspicuously trudged up in his characteristic walk like run up somewhat reminiscent of Australia’s spin great Shane Warne to sending down some aces that thrust him back into absolute control as Bangladesh rockbottomed to 100 for 5 after 37 overs. When the Lankans got the wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraz 15 runs later leg before wicket courtesy Tharindu Rathnayake which was upheld on the review after the head umpire turned down the appeal, the writing was on the wall for Bangladesh with wicket-keeper batsman Litton Das the last of the last of the specialists unbeaten on 13.
Of course, the stage to the Lankan show was set up by the explosive Kusal Mendis living up to the job expected of him to holding the fort in the lower order, and today at No.7 with Kamindu Mendis chipping in with 33 off 41 with 5 boundaries after overnight big man Pathum Nissanka added 12 to his 146 the previous day and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva fell for 7 leg before wicket to Taijul Islam who finished with figures of 5 for 131 with Nayeem Hasan a next best 3 for 87.
But the Lankan captain was back to scourge the Bangladeshis with the ball known for his ability as a bowler to deliver breakthroughs in the past which he has apparently developed to be a wicket taking bowler with his quick arm action.
Chief Scores
Bangladesh 247 and 115/6 (38.4 Overs)
(Mushfiqur Rahim 26, Najmul Hossain Shento 19, Monimul Haque 15, Mehidy Hasan 11, Litton Das n.o. 13, Dhananjaya de Silva 2/13, Prabath Jayasuriya 2/47, Tharindu Rathnayake 1/10, Asitha Fernando 1/22)
Sri Lanka 458 (116.5 Overs)
(Pathum Nissanka 158, Dinesh Chandimal 93, Kusal Mendis 84, Lahiru Udara 40,
Kmindu Mendis 33, Sonal Dinusha 11, Tharindu Rathnayake 10, Taijul Islam 5/131, Nayeem Hasan 3/87, Nahid Rana 1/94)
