Chattogram Test, Day 3: Tamim's ton powers Bangladesh to 318/3
Bangladesh were in complete control on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Chattogram. Starting their day from 76/0, the hosts bulldozed their way to 318/3. They now trail by 79 runs. Tamim Iqbal struck a sensational ton, but he was later retired hurt. Kasun Rajitha, who came in as a concussion substitute for Vishwa Fernando, pocketed two wickets.
Tamim looked ferocious on Day 2 and eventually registered his 10th hundred in red-ball cricket. He flicked Asitha to deep mid-wicket and ran a single to attain the feat. It was his maiden Test ton against SL. He has now amassed 917 runs against SL across 12 matches at 43.66. The left-handed batter retired hurt on 133 after suffering cramps (15 fours).
Mahmudul had a gritty show against Sri Lanka on Day 2. He played cautiously to clock his second fifty in Tests (58 off 142 deliveries). Meanwhile, Mushfiqur Rahim lodged his 26th fifty in whites (53*). He is 15 runs short of being the first Bangladeshi batter to register 5,000 Test runs. Liton Das dazzled with 54* on the other end (12th Test fifty).
Tamim and Mahmudul added 81 runs before lunch. They fetched a total of 162 runs for the opening stand. It was the first 100-run opening partnership by Bangladesh in over five years. Later, Tamim weaved an unbeaten 36-run stand alongside Mushfiqur for the fourth wicket. Mushfiqur then joined hands with Liton to compile a 98* run-stand for the fifth wicket.
Mahmudul, who was batting on 51, was dropped by Lasith Embuldeniya at fine leg. That did not prove too costly for the visitors. However, SL would have despised missing out on Tamim's. He would have been out on 114 had Dhananjaya de Silva held on to the chance at first slip. The southpaw would be raring to add to his tally on Day 4.
Asitha Fernando gave the first breakthrough, bowling short from around the wicket to get the better of Mahmudul. Kasun Rajitha proved to be a key factor for SL. He tempted Najmul Hossain Shanto (1) on a length ball outside off that carried to the keeper. He then set up Mominul Haque (2) by bowling a few deliveries outside off and later angled one in.
