2nd Test: Bangladesh revived through Rahman, Kayes tons

Trail by 178 runs against SL, with two wickets remaining on day three.

CHITTAGONG: Shamsur Rahman and Imrul Kayes hit maiden centuries as Bangladesh found batting form to avoid the follow-on in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

The hosts, facing a monumental Sri Lankan first-innings total of 587, fought splendidly to reach 409 for eight by stumps on day three.

It was a remarkable comeback by the bottom-placed Test side, who had been thrashed by an innings and 248 runs in the first Test in Dhaka last week — suffering their 14th defeat in 15 matches against Sri Lanka with one draw.

But the loss of four batsmen in the final session after being 319 for four at one stage meant Bangladesh still trail by 178 runs with just two wickets in hand. Rahman and Kayes, who came together when Tamim Iqbal was dismissed without a run on the board on Wednesday afternoon, put on Bangladesh’s highest second-wicket stand of 232.

Rahman scored 106 in only his second Test and left-handed Kayes celebrated his return to the Test side after two years with 115 to lift Bangladesh to 232 for one soon after lunch.

Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis then bowled both batsmen and Kayes had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after pulling a hamstring as he stepped out to loft the ball.

Sri Lanka sliced through the middle order before Shakib Al Hasan retrieved the situation with a half-century and Nasir Hossain chipped in with 42.

Mendis dismissed Nasir and Sohag Gazi off successive deliveries, but Al-Amin Hossain prevented a hat-trick by defending the next ball.

At the close, Mohammad Mahmudullah was unbeaten on 30 and Al-Amin was on three.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2014.

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