2024-03-22 23:51:06
The story at the end of the day could have been different. But Bangladesh now has a burden of 248 runs! Bangladesh scored 32 for 3 in the first innings to answer Sri Lanka’s 280. But after winning the toss, the bowlers of Sri Lanka picked up 5 wickets for 57 runs. The number could have been 6 wickets. If Shariful Islam’s catch of Kamindu Mendis, Mahmudul Hasan could have won the slip.
Bangladesh paid the price for that catch miss. Mendis and captain Dhananjaya made a partnership of 202 runs in the sixth wicket. Both got centuries. The guests got a big capital on the scoreboard. Despite the loss of 5 wickets in the morning session, the Bangladesh camp is uncomfortable with Sri Lanka’s high number of runs. No complaints about the bowling though. Rather, the two centurions Mendis and Dhananjaya are working uncomfortably with quick runs.
The team’s pace bowling coach Andre Adams came as the team’s representative at the press conference at the end of the first day on Friday. Regarding their position, the coach said, ‘We have to see how we bat. I think we conceded more runs after losing five wickets. The wicket was good though. No problem. The ball came into the bat very nicely. We have to bat so well. The situation is not yet out of reach but we have to see how we bat.’
At the beginning of the day, Bangladesh got a chance to run out in a direct throw. Taijul’s throw goes out for a bit. Then Joy’s catch miss burned the team. Adams believes that the position of the team would have been better if these two opportunities were taken. If I could have taken the day could have been ours. We could have picked up 7 wickets before the mid-day break.’
The team’s performance is not a disappointment at all. After losing 3 wickets to score 32 runs in the late afternoon, Bangladesh’s position is shaky. Adams is happy with the bowling effort Bangladesh have shown, ‘Everyone who was there in the young pace attack has done well. Especially if they are completely inexperienced. Try not to fail. We need to see how we can do better. They are supposed to play the way Sri Lanka played. They will attack us. We have to work on how we can better portray ourselves.’