MENDIS LIFTS SRI LANKA

KUSAL MENDIS made the most of a first-ball reprieve and went on to score an unbeaten century yesterday as Sri Lanka posted a commanding 321-4 in the first Test against Bangladesh. Mendis remained unbeaten on 166 at stumps after sharing a 196-run stand with Asela Gunaratne (85) for the fourth wicket at Galle International Stadium on the opening day of the two-Test series. Bangladesh pace bowler Subashis Roy thought he had Mendis out for a golden duck when wicketkeeper Liton Das dived to his right to take a catch off an inside edge. But a TV replay showed the bowler had overstepped, prompting the umpires to declare a no ball and enable the 22-year-old Mendis to go on to compile his second Test century. “I may have played a false stroke the first ball I faced,” Mendis said at the end of opening day’s play. “After I played that shot I got a second opportunity to do justice to my team.” Mendis reached three figures with a straight four off Soumya Sarkar in a 242-ball innings that has so far featured 18 fours and two sixes. Gunaratne, who replaced injured regular skipper Angelo Mathews in the starting lineup, hit seven fours in his second half-century in three Tests before he was bowled by Taskin Ahmed. Bangladesh omitted left-arm spinner Taijul Islam from their side after the selectors opted for a three-man pace attack. Liton was keeping wicket for the tourists after captain Mushfiqur Rahim, wanting to concentrate on his batting, handed him the gloves. The hosts went in with three spinners, meaning all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva missed out after playing the last Test during Sri Lanka’s recent tour of South Africa. The second Test will be in Colombo from March 15-19.