In the past, Bangladesh batsmen have been blamed for not batting out sessions consistently enough. Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim displayed the skills and maturity to play out an entire session in an unbeaten 153-run stand, taking Bangladesh closer to the follow-on mark 371. Ashraful carried on steadily after reaching his century in the morning session, while Mushfiqur was in sight of three-figures himself. The Sri Lankan bowlers found the going tough in one of their strongest home venues.
The absence of two mainstays in the line-up was talked about as Bangladesh's biggest challenge ahead of this game, but Ashraful allayed fears of a batting meltdown with a comeback century. Ashraful has fancied the Sri Lankan bowling since his debut, with five of his six Test centuries coming against them. His presence lent stability after Sri Lanka struck in the first hour, picking up two quick wickets.
The momentum was with Bangladesh at the end of the second day, with Ashraful and the debutant Mominul Haque having already added 70. The pitch was still good enough to be able to drive through the line and one such chipped drive between the bowler and mid-off brought up Mominul's fifty. The pair batted positively against the seamers, who looked to get some swing with the old ball. Nuwan Kulasekara induced the first error of the morning, getting one to move away from the left-handed Mominul and producing an outside edge low to first slip.
Nine balls later, Mahmudullah tried to get off the mark with a blow over the off side, but was beaten in flight by Rangana Herath and stumped.
Ashraful took the pressure away from Bangladesh by remaining positive, punishing the fuller deliveries outside off for fours and forcing the captain to push cover back. Mushfiqur's calm presence helped Ashraful as he neared his first Test century in more than four years. Mushfiqur found his timing with a couple of sweetly timed punches past cover in one over by Kulasekara.
Ashraful entered the 90s with a forceful drive past cover point, but the nerves were apparent. A fidgety Ashraful had to bide his time as Herath managed to get more turn during the second hour, on one such occasion producing an outside edge that dropped wide of slip. Ashraful used his feet but checked the shot on a few occasions. He spent 35 deliveries in the 90s before driving Ajantha Mendis past cover to bring up his century. The relief was palpable as he roared and stretched his arms towards the dressing room, temporarily putting to rest the criticism he is so accustomed to.
Sri Lanka took the new ball after lunch but it didn't change their fortunes as the ball came on nicely on to the bat. There was neither enough swing or bounce to trouble the batsmen. Mushfiqur whipped Kulasekara off the pads in the first over with the new ball before Ashraful thrashed Angelo Mathews past cover for consecutive boundaries. A Mushfiqur cover drive brought up the century stand, the second of the innings, both involving Ashraful.
The stand was highlighted by several such confident drives through the off side, but the one that stood out was an elegant glide by Ashraful to the third man boundary off Shaminda Eranga. Ashraful just used the pace and angle from round the wicket to improvise. In the process, he went past his own record for the highest score by a Bangladesh batsman against Sri Lanka, beating his 136 in Chittagong in 2006.
Mushfiqur used his feet to Herath regularly, chipping down the track and smashing it over the off side. Mendis wasn't used as much as the senior Herath, but he too couldn't maintain control, dishing out a full toss to Mushfiqur that was clubbed over midwicket. Mushfiqur too entered the 90s with a boundary down to third man, just before tea.
While Sri Lanka had their moments in the first session, they had little to show for in the second. They could be up against it in the third, if this pair can continue the good work.
Bangladesh 438 for 4 (Ashraful 189*, Mushfiqur 152*, Mominul 55) trail Sri Lanka 570 for 4 dec (Thirimanne 155*, Chandimal 116*) by 132 runs
Galle has traditionally been a stronghold for Sri Lanka, with their spinners known to run through sides and wrap up games before the stipulated five days (12 wins out of 22 Tests overall). Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim batted like they were unfazed by that intimidating record, smashing big centuries and breaking country records over a single day.
Their unbeaten stand of 261 was the highest ever in Bangladesh's 13-year history as a Test nation and Ashraful went past his own record for the highest individual score by a Bangladesh batsman.
A familiar criticism of Bangladesh has been the inability of their batsmen to occupy the crease long enough and thus post totals in excess of 400 on a consistent basis. It affected their ability to stretch the match for five days. On this occasion, Ashraful played the longest innings by a Bangladesh batsman in terms of balls faced (381) and the team passed the 400 mark with just four wickets down, well on track to beating their highest of 556 against West Indies last November. They lost just two wickets during the day - both within the first hour - before Ashraful and Mushfiqur remained unseparated till stumps.
Bangladesh 438 for 4 (Ashraful 189*, Mushfiqur 152*, Mominul 55) trail Sri Lanka 570 for 4 dec (Thirimanne 155*, Chandimal 116*) by 132 runs
Galle has traditionally been a stronghold for Sri Lanka, with their spinners known to run through sides and wrap up games before the stipulated five days (12 wins out of 22 Tests overall). Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim batted like they were unfazed by that intimidating record, smashing big centuries and breaking country records over a single day.Their unbeaten stand of 261 was the highest ever in Bangladesh's 13-year history as a Test nation and Ashraful went past his own record for the highest individual score by a Bangladesh batsman.
A familiar criticism of Bangladesh has been the inability of their batsmen to occupy the crease long enough and thus post totals in excess of 400 on a consistent basis. It affected their ability to stretch the match for five days. On this occasion, Ashraful played the longest innings by a Bangladesh batsman in terms of balls faced (381) and the team passed the 400 mark with just four wickets down, well on track to beating their highest of 556 against West Indies last November. They lost just two wickets during the day - both within the first hour - before Ashraful and Mushfiqur remained unseparated till stumps.
Two wicketless sessions marked a forgettable day for Sri Lanka's bowlers. The swing deserted the seamers, Rangana Herath failed to get enough turn and bounce to trouble the batsmen; Ajantha Mendis was ineffective on his comeback Test, failing to land the ball at the desired length and dishing out the odd full toss. Part-timers were called upon but all changes were in vain.
In all honesty, the pitch was a batsman's dream but that wasn't taking any credit away from Bangladesh. The absence of two mainstays in the line-up was talked about as Bangladesh's biggest challenge ahead of this game, but Ashraful allayed fears of a batting meltdown with a mature innings. Ashraful has fancied the Sri Lankan bowling since his debut, with five of his six Test centuries coming against them. His presence lent stability after Sri Lanka struck in the first hour, picking up two quick wickets - Mominul Haque edging to slip for a debut 55, and Mahmudullah stumped after needlessly waltzing down the track to Herath before getting off the mark.
Ashraful took the pressure away from Bangladesh by remaining positive, punishing the fuller deliveries outside off for fours and forcing the captain to push cover back. Mushfiqur's calm presence helped Ashraful as he neared his first Test century in more than four years. Mushfiqur found his timing with a couple of sweetly timed punches past cover in one over by Kulasekara.
Ashraful entered the 90s with a forceful drive past cover point, but the nerves were apparent. He spent a fidgety 35 deliveries in the 90s before driving Mendis past cover to bring up his century. The relief was palpable as he roared and stretched his arms towards the dressing room, temporarily putting to rest the criticism he is so accustomed to.
Sri Lanka took the new ball after lunch but it didn't change their fortunes. Mushfiqur whipped Kulasekara off the pads in the first over with the new ball before Ashraful thrashed Angelo Mathews past cover for consecutive boundaries. A Mushfiqur cover drive brought up the century stand, the second of the innings.
The stand was highlighted by several such confident drives through the off side, but the one that stood out was an elegant glide by Ashraful to the third man boundary off Shaminda Eranga. Ashraful just used the pace and angle from round the wicket to improvise. Mushfiqur used his feet to Herath regularly, chipping down the track and smashing it over the off side. Mendis wasn't used as much as the senior Herath, but he too couldn't maintain control, dishing out a full toss to Mushfiqur that was clubbed over midwicket. Mushfiqur too entered the 90s with a boundary down to third man, just before tea. After playing out a full session, the pair shook hands and walked back acknowledging themselves for a job well done.
The pair hardly offered chances but Sri Lanka did have a chance to break the stand. Mushfiqur, on 103, went down the pitch to Tillakaratne Dilshan, who failed to hang on to a return catch. He charged the same bowler and launched him over long-on to go past the follow-on mark. Records were broken in the final session. When Ashraful pushed a single to long-on, he went past his previous best of 158, against India, to break a Bangladesh record. This was also the second double-century partnership in Bangladesh's Test history for all wickets, beating the exact 200 set by Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique against India in Dhaka in 2010.
The bowlers tried varying their lengths on a slow pitch, but it appeared as if they were waiting or the batsmen to get out off a tired shot. The pair rarely played weary shots, dispatching anything that was short or wide. A straight-driven four by Mushfiqur helped the side beat their best overseas total of 416, against West Indies in St Lucia in 2004.
Bangladesh were still 132 adrift of matching Sri Lanka's score and while the chances of a result look dim in these conditions, getting this far was a big sign of progress for Bangladesh. They left the hosts searching for answers in their own fortress.
No comments:
Post a Comment