Disciplined Bangladesh stuns Sri Lanka by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

---

Event:

Sri Lanka in Bangladesh 2008/09

---

DateLine: 26th December 2008

 

The match suffered a delayed start due to heavy fog on the ground and when play deemed possible after the delay, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat. Often it is seen that teams playing against Bangladesh after winning the toss elect to bat first, piles up huge score and Bangladesh doing the catch up game all the time. But this time, the Bangladesh fielders managed to hold their own and make Sri Lanka crawl along for most of the day.

 

Bangladesh had the better of a shortened morning session, capturing the wicket of Malinda Warnapura for 14. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat, perhaps hoping it would be their only innings of the first Test. Normally a team batting first against Bangladesh would just race off the blocks but this time, Mortaza and Alam maintained a tight line and length and the openers were put under chains.

 

Their persistence almost paid dividends in the seventh over, when Mortaza, held back his line to pitch in a ball short outside off, inducing Warnapura into playing a cut and producing the outside edge. However, Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh's wicketkeeper, failed to pouch the chance, only to be struck on his face while attempting the catch and, as a result, was forced off the field. Junaid Siddique then took over behind the stumps. Warnapura failed to capitalise on the missed opportunity, as he fell in the next over, trapped plumb in front to an inswinger from Mortaza.

 

Post-lunch session the Bangladeshi bowlers maintained their stranglehold over the Lankan batsmen never letting them to get away and then to reward them for their tight and steady line and length Shakib removed Sangakkara and Jayawardene before tea while Shahadat Hossain made their waiting tea in the dressing room more sweeter by removing Micheal Vandort in between.

 

Their good time in the field continued even after the post-tea session. Sri Lanka looked stunned with what hit them. Normally one would associate Bangladesh with streaks of brilliance along with indiscipline but what was on view was a sustained period of relentless pressure built upon the Sri Lankan batsmen as they struggled to get out of the vice like grip of the Bangladeshi bowlers. Trouble followed Sri Lanka as three overs after tea, Dilshan was on his way back to the pavilion and then in space of 27 ball, wicket keeper Jayawardene was also back in the hut and the look of the stunned Sri Lankan dressing room told the story of the day.

 

The scorecard read a vulnerable 171/6 and just then the umpires offered the light to the batsmen who very gladly accepted the offer, thus it will give them time to regroup and plan their strategy for the next day.