Thirimanne, Karunaratne centuries help SL dominate Day 1

Centuries from the opening pair -- skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne -- helped Sri Lanka dominate proceedings as the hosts amassed 291 for the loss of just one wicket at the end of Day 1 of their second and final Test against Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy today.   

Debutant Shoriful Islam scalped the only wicket that fell on the day when the pacer removed Karunaratne after he reached his 12th Test ton during a 209-run opening partnership with Thirimanne. 

Thirimanne also notched a century, his third Test ton, after the departure of Karunaratne as he and Oshanda Fernando strung together an unbeaten 82-run second-wicket stand. Thirimanne remains unbeaten on 131 off 253 deliveries while Oshanda is nearing his fourth Test fifty as he remains not out on 40 off 98 deliveries.  

Thirimanne reaches ton after Karunaratne's departure

Lahiru Thirimanne reached his third Test ton as Sri Lanka marched on after captain Dimuth Karunaratne's departure. A push through cover off Taskin Ahmed saw the batsmen run three as Thirimanne reached what was his second Test ton this year. 11 fours in his 212-ball 102 knock.

Shoriful removes Karunaratne to break opening stand

Shoriful Islam has removed opener and Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne after the latter reached his 12th Test ton during a 209-run opening partnership with Thirimanne. 

Shoriful was seen talking to Otis Gibson at the start of the session, discussing tactics with the Tigers' bowling coach. The plan they discussed seemingly appeared to have worked as Shoriful bowled wide outside the off stump and Karunaratne slashed at it, managing to get an under edge which just about carried to Liton Das. Shoriful bags his maiden Test wicket in his debut Test for Bangladesh. 

Karunaratne ton sees SL on top at tea

Dimuth Karunaratne continued his good vein of form with the bat as the Sri Lankan captain picked up his 12th Test hundred. Provided a lifeline when he was dropped on 28 off Taskin Ahmed delivery by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Karunaratne did not give the Bangladesh bowling any sniff after lunch. Nor did his opening partner Thirimanne at the other end, who was unbeaten on 80 off 174 deliveries. Karunaratne meanwhile is on 106 off 175 deliveries, his innings laced with 13 fours. The duo went through to tea, adding 122 runs in 31 overs in the second session as the Tigers remained wicketless.  Sri Lanka are 188/0 in 58 overs.

Sri Lankan opening pair frustrate Tigers

The Sri Lankan opening duo of captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne have continued to frustrate the Bangladesh bowlers in the second session, notching a century stand. The run-rate has picked up after lunch as  both Karunaratne and Thirimanne picked up their fifties following lunch. The opening duo have three consecutive century stands in Tests now, becoming the first Sri Lankan opening pair to achieve the feat.

The pitch has certainly gotten more easier to bat on as the day progressed and the dropped chance will be seen as a big opportunity missed as the day wears on.  Sri Lanka are 111/0 in 36 overs.

Karunaratne dropped as Tigers remain wicketless at lunch

Bangladesh have failed to deceive in the field, once again dropping a crucial catch and yet again at the slips. Taskin Ahmed is yet again the victim of another dropped catch. Taskin angled the delivery across the Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who played at that one, throwing his hands away from his body, only managing to edge it to wide slip as Najumul Hossain dropped it on the last delivery of the 20th over. Karunaratne had struck 244 in the first Test and his scalp would have been a big one for the Tigers.

Taskin, who bowled excellently throughout the first session, would produce another edge next over, off Thirimanne. The length delivery seamed away after pitching and Thirimanne pushed at it as the ball flew just wide of the diving Mehedi Miraz's outstretched hands at gully and to the boundary. Sri Lanka have reached 66 without loss after 27 overs as lunch was called on day one after the hosts elected to bat. 

Tigers keep it tight

Bangladesh have managed to keep a tight leash on Lankan run-scoring with Shoriful Islam's follow-up act following Rahi and Taskin's earlier spells, also not letting Sri Lankan openers get comformtable on a pitch which seemingly has better prospects for the bowlers than the one from the first Kandy Test. Sri Lanka are 22 for no loss after 14 overs at drinks.

The Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne reached the 5000-run club in Tests with single off Shoriful. The left-hander is the second active Sri Lanka player to reach the mark with former captain Angelo Matthews the only other active player to accomplish the feat previously.

Photo: Collected

Shoriful handed debut as Sri Lanka bat

Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against Bangladesh at Kandy today.

Bangladesh have included young pacer Shoriful Islam in place of Ebadat Hossain. The left-armer is playing his debut Test. Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama is making his debut for Sri Lanka in this match as well.

The Tigers have made a bright start with the ball as both Taskin Ahmed and Abu Jayed troubled the Lankan openers. A few lbw appeals an inside edge and balling just missing the outside edge as it shaped away, have been the story of the first four overs before Mehedi Miraj was given the ball to bowl the fifth over of the innings.  

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrama.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Abu Jayed.