De Silva hits century in strong Sri Lankan reply
Dhananjaya de Silva struck a century and shared 187 runs in an unbroken secondwicket stand with Kushal Mendis as Sri Lanka gave a strong reply to Bangladesh in the first Test in Chittagong on Thursday.
De Silva made an unbeaten 104 while Mendis hit 83 not out, guiding Sri Lanka to 187-1 at stumps on the second day.
Earlier, Rangana Herath and Suranga Lakmal took three wickets each to help the visitors dismiss Bangladesh for 513 in their first innings.
The pair came together after spinner Mehedi Hasan got rid of Dimuth Karunaratne for a duck shortly after Bangladesh’s innings ended with skipper Mahmudullah Riyad unbeaten on 83.
De Silva led Sri Lanka’s batting charge with his aggressive approach and brought his fourth Test hundred off 122 balls with a cover drive off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
This is de Silva’s second successive Test century after scoring an unbeaten 119 in Sri Lanka’s last match against India in New Delhi in December.
Bangladesh, who are now leading Sri Lanka by 326 runs, wasted two reviews against Mendis and also dropped two chances offered by the righthander. Mehedi dropped Mendis on four off paceman Mustafizur Rahman at second slip, before Imrul Kayes grassed another chance -- this time off Mehedi’s bowling -- with the batsman on 57. The hosts, who resumed the day on 374-4, added 139 to their overnight. Mahmudullah added 58 with debutant Sunzamul Islam for the eighth wicket, after three quick wickets rattled the home side.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 1st inngs (374-4 overnight) (M Haque 176, S Lakmal 3-68, R Herath 3-150) vs Sri Lanka 1st inngs 187-1 (K Mendis 83*, D de Silva 104*)
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