A four and a single from Asitha Fernando put Tamim Iqbal on 133, his 10th Test century, as Bangladesh took control of the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das both made half-centuries in Bangladesh’s first-Test win over Sri Lanka in Chittagong on Tuesday, following Tamim Iqbal’s century. Liton and Mushfiqur had a 98-run unbroken stand to help Bangladesh reach 318-3 at stumps on the third day, in response to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 397, in Bangladesh’s reply. After a four and a single off Asitha Fernando before tea, Tamim ended the day on 133, his 10th Test hundred. On the fourth day, Bangladesh will want to speed up their scoring rate in search of a first-innings advantage, but he is anticipated to resume his 217-ball innings, which included 15 fours.
During the absence of Tamim, Liton stepped in to aid Mushfiqur and Bangladesh maintain their supremacy.
Liton hit a four off Lasith Embuldeniya to score his 12th Test fifty, while Mushfiqur hit a single off Kasun Rajitha in the next over to score his 26th Test fifty.
Mushfiqur anchored the innings, scoring 50 off 124 balls and eight fours. Liton was the star of the show.
After Fernando broke Tamim’s 162-run opening stand with Mahmudul Hasan, who struck 58 off 142 balls before edging a leg-side delivery behind the stumps, Sri Lanka’s bowlers briefly slowed Bangladesh’s run flow.
After Najmul Hossain was replaced by Rajitha, Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque was replaced by Najmul Hossain.
As a replacement for Vishwa Fernando, who was forced to bowl only eight overs due to a hit to the head on Monday, Rajitha struck with his fourth ball, as Najmul surrendered a regulation catch to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.
Mominul’s off-stump was broken by Rajitha after five overs.
Before the review, Tamim had been ruled out after being caught behind on 102 by Ramesh Mendis.
Tamim struck two fours in the second over of the day to put Bangladesh in a commanding position, before he hit a boundary to reach his 32nd Test half-century in 73 balls.
Mahmudul was caught at fine-leg by Embuldeniya off Asitha on 51, Sri Lanka’s sole chance of the morning.
The 21-year-old was playing only his fifth Test when he flicked Asitha into mid-wicket for a double, completing his second Test half-century in 110 balls.
The Sri Lankan innings were kept together by Angelo Mathews, who fell agonizingly short of a century on 199.
Nayeem Hasan took 6-105 for Bangladesh as an off-spinner.
