Herath wrecks Bangladesh

Sri Lanka spinner grabs five in first-innings of 2nd Test.

COLOMBO:

Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath bagged five wickets as Bangladesh were bowled out for 240 in their first-innings on the opening day of the second and final Test in Colombo.

The left-arm spinner finished with five for 68, his 15th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings, while fast-bowler Nuwan Kulasekara took three wickets as the tourists were all out in the last session after being put in to bat.

Sri Lanka lost opener Tillakaratne Dilshan for no score before reaching 18 for one in reply at stumps. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne was unbeaten on 12 with Kumar Sangakkara (three not out).

Mominul Haque, who made 55 on debut in the drawn first Test in Galle, top-scored for Bangladesh with an impressive 64. Nasir Hossain (48), opener Jahurul Islam (33) and Sohag Gazi (32) were the other main scorers.

“We thought the pitch would help the seamers. Luckily, I got some wickets but our bowlers bowled well on this track,” said Herath.

“I didn’t get much help before lunch, but after lunch I just kept the ball in the right place and that’s why I was successful.”

Sri Lanka made one change from the side that played the opening Test, bringing in paceman Suranga Lakmal in place of spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Bangladesh replaced Anamul Haque, Elias Sunny and Shahadat Hossain with Tamim, Robiul Islam and Rubel Hossain.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2013.