There was a comedy of errors on Day 2 of the second Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where three fielders failed to complete a catch to dismiss Prabath Jayasuriya. It was a lucky break for the batsman as the ball flew off the outside edge of his bat, but despite several attempts, the slip fielders were not ready to take the catch. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto at first slip, Shahadat Hossain Dipu at second slip and Zakir Hasan at third slip all had a chance to complete the catch but ultimately squandered it.
Sri Lanka made a record 531 runs in their first innings against Bangladesh on Sunday, but Kamindu Mendis narrowly missed the feat of a third Test century in successive innings.
Sri Lanka’s total, on the second day of the second Test in Chittagong, was the highest scored in Tests without a batsman scoring a century.
Mendis was 92 not out when last man Asitha Fernando was bowled out for a duck, leaving him eight short of what would have made him only the fourth Sri Lankan to score three centuries in consecutive innings.
Mendis, who scored 102 and 164 in the first Test, hit Taijul Islam for two sixes in an over to come close to the feat.
A juggling act with the ball.
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.#BANvSL #Fancode pic.twitter.com/zV4JbhGc8u— FanCode (@FanCode) March 31, 2024
But Fernando didn’t move in a desperate bid to change the strike.
Besides Mendis, who was playing only his third Test, Dhananjaya de Silva (70), Dinesh Chandimal (59), Kusal Mendis (93), Dimuth Karunaratne (86) and Nishan Madhushka (57) also scored a fifty each.
Shakib Al Hasan finished with 3-110 as Sri Lanka left Bangladesh toiling for almost two days after opting to bat first. Sri Lanka resumed the second day at 314-4.
De Silva, like Mendis, who also scored 102 and 108 in the first Test, raised the prospect of scoring 300 on the trot before being dismissed in the post-lunch session.
Chandimal was the only batsman to be dismissed in the first session and put Shakib behind the stumps after making 59 runs.
Earlier, Khaled Ahmed got stuck in De Silva’s leg in the first over after the lunch break.
Khaled could have taken another wicket in his next had Prabath Jayasuriya not been comically dropped by three slip fielders off six.
Mendis was declared behind on 35 to Mehidy Hasan Miraz, but the decision was overturned after review.
Shakib hit Jayasuriya plumb in front to end his 65-run seventh wicket stand with Mendis, who was dropped by Hasan Mahmud on 60 at deep square leg.
Sri Lanka won the first Test in Sylhet by 328 runs.
(With AFP inputs)
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