 "Karunaratne comes to Sri Lanka's rescue with patient fifty on Day 2 of first Test against Bangladesh")
Veteran batter Dimuth Karunaratne chipped in with a patient half-century to steer Sri Lanka to safety at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet, helping the visitors stretch their lead past 200 in the process.
Karunaratne scored 52 off 101 deliveries, scoring most of his runs through boundaries (seven fours and a six) before getting dismissed by pacer Shoriful Islam as Sri Lanka ended the day on 119/5, 211 runs ahead of the Tigers.
Bangladesh had been bundled out for 188 earlier in the day, conceding a 92-run first innings lead but managed to revive their hopes in the Test with some early strikes.
Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored 102 runs in the first innings, was batting on 23 alongside Vishwa Fernando on two at close of play.
Debutant Nahid Rana dismissed Nishan Madushka (10) and Kusal Mendis (three).
Spinners Tajiul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed Angelo Mathews (22) and Dinesh Chandimal (0) respectively to give Bangladesh some hope, with the tourists teetering on 64-4 before Karunaratne’s rally.
Vishwa claimed four wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings of 188 while Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha each took three.
Nightwatchman Taijul Islam top-scored with a career-best 47 for the hosts who resumed on 32-3.
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View AllKumara struck with his first ball of the innings when he forced overnight batsman Mahmudul Hasan (12) to edge to de Silva at second slip.
Shahadat Hossain played a few attacking shots before he fell to Kumara in the same manner for 18.
Taijul and Liton Das added 41 runs for the sixth wicket before Kumara struck again.
A late swinger knocked back Liton’s middle stump, sending him to the pavilion for 25 after a brief spell at the crease punctuated by four boundaries.
Taijul was out off Rajitha after nicking the ball behind the stumps to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.
Rajitha also removed the last recognised batsman Mehidy Hasan for 11, leaving the bottom order to cut the deficit as much as possible.
Khaled Ahmed and Shoriful Islam obliged, hitting four sixes between them.
Fernando ended their 40-run partnership when he removed Shoriful for 15 and wrapped up the innings in his next over by sending back Khaled for 22.
Sri Lanka made 280 runs in their first innings on the first day thanks to centuries from de Silva and Kamindu Mendis, who both scored 102.
Sri Lanka have never lost a Test series to Bangladesh.
The second and final match of the series will be played in Chittagong from 30 March.
With AFP inputs
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