SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP) — Pace bowler Lahiru Kumara took three wickets as Sri Lanka reduced Bangladesh to to 132-6 at lunch Saturday, giving his team the upper hand on Day 2 of the series-opening test match.
Nightwatchman Taijul Islam resisted for the entire morning session, reaching lunch at a career-best 41 not out. Mehidy Hasan was unbeaten on 2.
Sri Lanka was in trouble early on Day 1 after being sent in to bat but recovered to post 280 in the first innings. The visitors now have a 148-run lead.
Resuming at 32-3, Taijul started the day with a four through point off Kasun Rajitha but Sri Lanka needed very little time to strike.
Kumara dismissed Mahmudul Hasan for 12, with a fuller, swinging delivery that took the outside edge.
Kumara’s probing line and length got earned him another wicket soon after when he dismissed Shahadat Hossain with extra bounce, ending a 30-run partnership.
On the stroke of the lunch, Kumara (3-22) bowled Liton Das with a full delivery after tormenting him repeatedly. Liton, who scored 25 off 43 with four boundaries, added 41 runs with Taijul.
Vishwa Fernando didn’t add any wickets in the morning session and had figures of 2-38 at the interval.
A total of 13 wickets tumbled on Day 1 when Sri Lanka’s first innings was bolstered by centuries from skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis.
Both scored 102 to lead the recovery after Sri Lanka had slipped to 57-5.
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