2024-03-25 06:46:52
Richmond College in the seaside city of Galle must have been a joyous day today. The red, blue and blue school flag must be flying with pride. Maybe the school theme song is sung. Where the chorus contains the line, ‘All for Richmond, nothing for myself.’ How much heart this chorus sung daily in the school created in the hearts of Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis was felt in the 22 yards of Sylhet. He did everything for Sri Lanka, not for himself.
The fame of Sri Lankan school cricket is not unknown to anyone. Cricketers like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene emerged from this highly competitive competition. Richmond College has gifted Sri Lankan cricket nothing like that. Dhananjaya and Kamindu are students of the same school. Dhananjaya Sr. Kamindu Jr. Although they did not play together in their school life, the country’s jersey brought them together.
The Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet was a big stage for both. Dhananjaya is leading outside the country for the first time since taking over the captaincy. Kamindu got a chance in the national team after a long time. His first test outside the country. In the first innings, two bright stars of Richmond School showed their ability. After losing 5 wickets for 57 runs, the pair of 202 runs gave a tough reply to the Bangladesh bowlers. Both have equal runs of 102 with the bat.
A repeat of the same performance in the second innings. Sri Lanka lost 6 wickets for 126 runs and got a pair of 173 runs in the seventh wicket. Both of them scored a century again. This time Dhananjaya made 108, Kamindu 164. That’s what happened. Sri Lanka’s collection at Run Chura, 418. With a lead of 92 runs in the first innings, they set Bangladesh a target of 511 runs. The record for the highest run chase in Test history is 418 runs. In other words, new history had to be written to win the match.
Dhananjaya and Kamindu wrote the epitaph of the match clearly in the position Bangladesh stood at the end of the third day’s play. Bangladesh lost 5 wickets to score 47 runs in just 13 overs in the late afternoon. Trailing by 464 runs, it is almost impossible for Bangladesh to save this match. Another Test defeat looms. Another dismal performance raises many questions. But these are being hidden in the heroism of Dhananjaya and Kamindu. Where there is a lot of pride involved, sweaty work. A new chapter has been written in the pages of history.
Sylhet Test two scored a pair of centuries. This is the third time in Test cricket that two batsmen scored double centuries in two innings. In 1974, Chappell Brothers scored a double century in two innings against New Zealand. Exactly 40 years later in 2014 Pakistan’s Mizbah Ul Haq and Azhar Ali scored double centuries in two innings against Australia. Dhananjaya and Kamindu wrote their names in the indelible ink of history. With Bangladesh drowned in despair and took the lead to the top of the mountain.
To cross the top of this mountain, Bangladesh’s eleven batsmen had to fight beyond their means, batting with a slow attitude and fighting to save the match, they had to survive by shedding sweat. But the effort shown by the first 5 batsmen clearly shows the attitude of the team. The match is now over! As people say, the wicket becomes bowling friendly when Bangladesh bats. And in Bangladesh’s bowling, the wicket becomes batting friendly. Sylhet’s 22 yards felt nothing like that today.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Shahadat Hossain and Liton Dash took wickets. There was no such rapid bowling that it was difficult to survive. Not even a terrible spell where you have to fight for your life. Rather, they are out of their own free will. The word wish is difficult but suitable. Or the skipper Shanta Ken will go to stand and play the ball outside the offstump with one hand. Why Lytton comes down the wicket with the first ball and takes the catch. Punch as victory and martyrdom come out. Zakir Haasan will also follow their path in the same way!
Seeing Dhananjaya and Kamindu batting on the same wicket all day, there was only applause, praise for the beautiful shot came out. Who will answer the question why Liton, Shantad is in such a hurry, why the lack of chase on their own wicket? Another Test defeat is looming as the bowling and batting failure. The pile of defeats has accumulated a long time ago. Now it is getting longer and longer.