Chandimal leads fightback
COLOMBO: Dinesh Chandimal’s gutsy 86 not out helped Sri Lanka overcome a wobbly morning session and reach 238 for seven on the opening day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh yesterday.
Opting to bat first against a Bangladesh side playing their 100th Test, Sri Lanka lost four wickets in the morning session at the P Sara Oval before Chandimal propped up the hosts who won the first Test by 259 runs at Galle.
Ch a n d imal hit only four boundaries in his patient unbeaten knock and was closing on his eighth Test century after facing 210 balls.
Skipper Rangana Herath was giving him company batting on 18 at stumps while Dhananjaya de Silva and Niroshan Dickwella chipped in with an identical 34.
For Bangladesh, paceman Mustafizur Rahman and off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz claimed two wickets apiece.
Mosaddek Hossain made his Test debut for Bangladesh.
Batsmen Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman and Islam have all been recalled to the starting XI.
Sri Lanka left out fast bowler Lahiru Kumara because of injury and added an extra batsman in Dhananjaya de Silva. Agencies