Shanto hits century as Bangladesh punish Sri Lanka

Najmul Shanto hit his maiden century and Tamim Iqbal made 90 as Bangladesh took a rare chance to plunder runs off an opponent on the first day of their first Test in Sri Lanka yesterday.
Bangladesh, looking for their first overseas Test win for four years, made 302 for two on an easy wicket for scoring in Pallekele. After Saif Hassan fell for a duck to Vishwa Fernando in the second over, Shanto and Tamim added 144 for the second wicket to establish Bangladesh’s dominance over the bowlers.
Tamim opted for an aggressive approach while Shanto played himself in cautiously, making for a diverse problems for the Sri Lankan attack. Tamim raced to his half-century in just 53 deliveries. Their partnership helped Bangladesh head into Lunch at a healthy 106/1, and they carried on after resumption. Shanto registered his second half-century in Tests with a fine cut to the fence.
Shanto and captain Mominul Haque then put on an unbeaten 150 runs for the third wicket. The 22-year-old left-hander Shanto was dropped by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella on 28 but went on to reach three figures in his seventh Test.
He was on 126 at the end of the day with 14 fours and a six. Shanto said he was “relieved” to get his first ton, and had been happy to wait for Sri Lanka’s “loose balls”. “I had worked really hard but unfortunately I wasn’t getting big runs. But I believed in my ability and I’m glad it all clicked today. It was a tough few months after a disappointing series against West Indies.”
The experienced Tamim accelerated the run scoring when he came on and narrowly missed out on a deserved century. His 29th half-century came off just 54 balls with ten boundaries.
Having reached 90 off 101 balls with 15 fours, Tamim offered a half-hearted shot and was caught by lone slip fielder Lahiru Thirimanne off Fernando’s bowling.
Mominul, unbeaten on 64 at the close, was also dropped by Dickwella, but the wicket would not have counted as Dhananjaya de Silva had overstepped the bowling line. Sri Lanka’s batting coach Grant Flower expressed hope for an early breakthrough on day two. “It has been a tough day but if we take two early wickets tomorrow things can change pretty quickly.”
Shanto said that the pitch, with a tinge of green, was good for batting after they rode out the first hour. He is looking ahead to the second day, and particularly the first session, for a bigger score for himself and the team.
“When I reached the middle, Tamim bhai told me I should bat knowing that this is a good wicket. He told me that I shouldn’t worry too much about the wicket. Here the new ball does a bit, as you saw even at the end of the day. It is a good wicket. I will try to bat as long as possible tomorrow by staying positive. We must bat well in the first session on the second day. Only after that, we will know what would be a good first innings total,” he said.

Scorecard
Bangladesh I innings
T Iqbal c Thirimanne b Fernando 90
Saif Hassan lbw b Fernando 0
Najmul Shanto not out 126
Mominul Haque not out 64
Extras (b4, lb6, w7, nb5) 22
Total (two wickets; 90 overs) 302
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Hassan), 2-152 (Iqbal)
To bat: Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain
Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 18-7-55-0 (nb 3), Vishwa Fernando 17-2-61-2, Lahiru Kumara 19-2-63-0, Angelo Mathews 5-1-8-0, Dhananjaya de Silva 16-1-71-0 (nb 2), Wanindu Hasaranga 15-1-34-0
Sri Lanka XI: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Oshada Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Niroshan Dickwella (wicket), Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando
Toss: Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat