A 106-run fourth-wicket partnership between Mominul Haque and Liton Das took the Tigers to 187 for three in the first session on Day 5 of the first Test.
Mominul followed up his first innings ton with a half century in the second innings when he whipped Dilruwan Perera through mid-wicket to run three runs. The pressure that Bangladesh were under, at the start of the morning session is evident from the contrast in temperament between Mominul’s first innings knock and his fifty in the second innings.
He stepped out to Rangana Herath in the 31st over and got underneath a tossed up delivery to hit the bowler straight down the ground for six but apart from that, Mominul has focused on dealing with the changing nature of the pitch. The ball has turned a lot more sharply this morning out of the rough patches and Mominul has looked to negate the spin by getting to the pitch of the deliveries.
Liton Das at the other end was batting at 47 as Tigers negated Sri Lanka’s efforts in the first hour after they had lost three key wickets on the last session of Day 4. Liton, who played solidly for most part of the innings played some premediated reverse-sweeps towards the end of the morning session but there was no disaster for the Tigers as they reach lunch on Day 5 without losing anymore wickets.
Hindustan Surkhiyan News Desk:
