Image Credit- AFP
On the third day at
Chattogram, Bangladesh was reduced to 178 all out by Asitha Fernando, who put
the hosts on the back foot with a four-wicket haul. As a result, Sri Lanka
collapsed to 102 for 6, four of which were taken by Hasan Mahmud, a rookie. At
stumps, however, the visitors’ lead is a commanding 455 runs because they chose
not to push Bangladesh to bat out the entire innings.
Due to skipper Dhananjaya de Silva’s creative field placements, the Sri Lankan
fast bowlers were able to attack in pairs. Bangladesh went from 96 for 1 to
being bowled out in the following 35.5 overs thanks to two wickets apiece from
Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, and Prabath Jayasuriya.
Bangladesh had a
confident start to the day. Two home hitters, Taijul Islam, who bats at night,
and Zakir Hasan, seemed somewhat in control for the first time in the series.
Zakir, who is 28 years old and unbeaten, hit two assured fours in the opening
two overs. Despite a shaky four to achieve his fourth Test fifty, he appeared
to be mostly in control.
Throughout the morning session, Zakir and Taijul held off Sri Lanka for an hour
and nineteen minutes, despite a few glimpses of a wicket. When Vishwa sent an
inswinger through Zakir, causing the man to do a cartwheel with his legs,
everything changed dramatically. Najmul Hossain Shanto was soon forced to chip
one to short midwicket by Prabath.
After the left-arm
quick Vishwa got another of his quick in-duckers to tear through Taijul’s
defences, Bangladesh lost their third wicket in three overs. Sent in at No. 3
on the second evening, the nightwatcher held his own for an outstanding 61
balls.
After lunch, Asitha set up Shakib Al Hasan with a two-card trick, which put Sri
Lanka under more strain. Litton Das was eliminated by Asitha after three balls.
After receiving criticism for his reckless shot in Sylhet the previous week,
the wicketkeeper-batter produced a neat cover drive and then edged a straight,
marginally wide delivery from Asitha. Next, Kumara managed to get Shahadat
Hossain to slip from one to two.
In Chattogram, the
dominance of the pacers persisted as Mahmud and Khaled stunned Sri Lanka with
six wickets apiece.
Kamindu Mendis’ wicket, which he took for nine, was Khaled’s final wicket of
the day. Captain Shanto made the prompt evaluation that revealed the advantage.
The wickets were appreciated by Bangladesh’s fielders; at one point, to the
delight of the small crowd, five fielders from the slip cordon pursued an edge
to the boundary. Even if they still have a mountain to climb in the fourth
inning, the players left the pitch a little happier than when they arrived.