Day 4 of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka first test saw Sri Lanka slip to 39/2 at Stumps, 29 runs behind Bangladesh after losing the wickets of Oshada Fernando Lasith Embuldeniya early in the second innings.
During the first Test against Sri Lanka in Chittagong on Wednesday, Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim made his eighth Test century and became the first Bangladeshi to score 5,000 runs. When Bangladesh’s last batsman, Shoriful Islam, was unable to continue his innings after taking a knock to the hand while batting, the team was all out for 465 runs, a 68-run lead after the first innings. In their second innings, Sri Lanka lost two wickets before the close of play on day four, cutting their deficit to 29.
At midwicket, Taijul Islam bowled a direct throw that nailed Oshada Fernando for 19 runs.
After dismissing nightwatchman Lasith Embuldeniya for two runs with his left-arm spin, Dimuth Karunaratne (18 not out) was bowled by the left-arm spinner.
However, after being initially disqualified for being caught at a silly point by Taijul for the same score, an appeals board upheld his earlier dismissal.
For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur had earlier contributed the most, scoring 105 from 282 balls before being dismissed by Embuldeniya in the third over of the final session.
As a concussion substitute for Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha led Sri Lanka’s bowling assault with 4-60.
Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal were both bowled out by Rajitha in the first two deliveries after lunch before Asitha Fernando took the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan for 26.
After Liton and Mushfiqur shared 165 runs for the third wicket in the first session of the day, the hosts hoped for some quick runs before declaring.
A Rajitha delivery outside the off-stump led to Liton’s early dismissal at the start of the second session.
Despite scoring 133 on the third day, Tamim returned after Liton’s dismissal, but only lasted one ball before being dismissed.
Tamim’s excellent 218-ball knock, which included 15 boundaries, came to an end when Rajitha swung the ball sharply in to uproot the middle stump.
Shakib took a catch at short leg off Ramesh Mendis for seven, but the ball sailed over the fielder’s head.
Just as he was beginning to appear menacing, Fernando swung at him with a three-wicket haul.
Dickwella’s fourth catch of the innings came on a short ball from the right-arm pace bowler that took a top edge and beat Shakib.
Earlier in the morning session, Mushfiqur reached his 100th Test run by flicking Fernando for his fourth boundary.
An empty Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium cheered when Fernando was nudged for two runs by the 35-year-old right-hander, who has already scored 10,000 runs in a career in Bangladesh.
Taijul’s 20 from 45 balls followed his ejection.
Before Sri Lanka could end Bangladesh’s innings, Fernando, who had figures of 3-72, got rid of Taijul.
