Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne raises his bat and helmet in celebration after scoring a century during the second day of their opening Test match against Bangladesh at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle, yesterday.
GALLE: Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal scored maiden Test hundreds as Sri Lanka took a strong grip on the first cricket Test against Bangladesh on the second day yesterday.
Thirimanne made 155 not out and Chandimal was unbeaten on 116 as they recorded a fifth-wicket stand of 203 to take Sri Lanka to a first innings total of 570 for four declared at tea.
Buoyed up by the batsmen, Sri Lanka’s bowlers made an early breakthrough, capturing the wickets of openers Jahurul Islam and Anamul Haque.
Bangladesh, though, fought back with an unbeaten half-century from Mohammad Ashraful to end the day on 135-2 at the Galle International Stadium.
Jahurul (20) was out as he tried to get out of the way of a delivery from Shaminda Eranga but only succeeded in gloving a catch to Chandimal.
Ajantha Mendis, playing his first Test since May 2011, took a wicket off his first over when he bowled Anamul with a flighted delivery for 13.
Ashraful (65 not out) and Mominul Haque (35 not out) stopped Sri Lanka making any further inroads to their batting with an unfinished stand of 70. Earlier, Chandimal brought up his firstTest hundred off 136 balls with the aid of 11 fours and two sixes, the 23-year-old making the most of his luck. REUTERS
