Before Mahmudul Hasan Joy dropped Kamindu Mendis at slip, when Shoriful Islam sensed his edge even before the batter had opened his account, everything was going Bangladesh’s way. In order to take advantage of the dampness on the Sylhet surface, the hosts decided to field. Their fast bowlers did not let them down, bringing Sri Lanka down to 57 for 5 before providing Kamindu with the previously mentioned reprieve.
In his first match back after a nine-month break, the Sri Lankan made the most of his chance to record his first Test century. He also helped Dhananjaya de Silva and Sri Lanka tie the game with a 202-run sixth-wicket partnership.
Dhananjaya also benefited from a dropped catch when Taijul Islam missed a tough opportunity off Shoriful at deep square leg after four runs.
Before Nahid Rana, a rookie pacer, terminated their partnership by removing Kamindu, the latter scored his hundred with a magnificent cover drive. In order to aid the home team in rallying following a second session in which Sri Lanka amassed 127 runs, Nahid also removed Dhananjaya not long after the latter scored his eleventh century in Test cricket.
“This track wasn’t simple to bat on. We had 57 people for 5. We talked about how we ought to bat longer. First things first, we should calm down and then proceed. After the game, Kamindu told reporters, “That’s what we did in the middle.”
This is my second Test match, so I’m really delighted. Because our test team is so established, I am aware that getting a chance [on the test side] is really difficult. I’ve put in a ton of work over the past few years to get here. Although I believe our collaboration was crucial in helping us reach our goal, I believe we could have played a little bit longer and increased the score even more.
“In Test cricket, it is possible to be five down for fifty or more wickets at any given time. Their quick bowlers had excellent, well-placed bowling. The cloudy weather and the seamers were also helped by the wicket. Our objective at that point was to simply relax into the crease and then start playing a lengthy innings. And following that, we were able to move on with our partnership and continue,” he stated.
The lone talking point for Bangladesh was the introduction of pace bowler Nahid Rana, who not only got his side back into the match but also showed off how quick he could bowl, taking 3 for 87 in 14 overs. He is regarded as one of the nation’s quickest bowlers and has recorded many times of 145 kmph.
“Rana is a gifted person. He moves quickly. He bowled at 145 kph nearly all the time. He does a lovely movement. He’s simply so unpolished. Andre Adams, the pace bowling coach for Bangladesh, told reporters of the new pace bowling prodigy, “He has a lot to learn but he is very talented.”
“In my opinion, Khaled and Rana bowled effectively together. In the first session, we created multiple opportunities, which was remarkable. especially considering that there were just ten overs in which there was actual ball pressure,” he remarked.
