da apostebet： Kithuruwan Vithanage was the entertainer of the day, as the Sri Lanka Development Emerging Team gave Bangladesh a Sri Lankan workout on the opening day of their tourgame
The Report by Mohammad Isam03-Mar-2013
Scorecard
Sohag Gazi picked up five wickets (file photo)•Associated Press
Kithuruwan Vithanage was theentertainer of the day, as the Sri Lanka Development Emerging Team gaveBangladesh a Sri Lankan workout on the opening day of their tourgame. Vithanage’s fifth first-class century, ending the day on anunbeaten 157, didn’t, however, completely overshadow offspinner Sohag Gazi’s five-for.Bangladesh should be concerned about the number of runs they conceded but therun-rate of 4.43 was almost expected from a bowling attack that had been outof touch with longer-version cricket for most of the 2012-13 season.Gazi, though, looked less like a bowler in hisfirst international season. He repeatedly flighted the ball while showingequal caution by keeping the ball right up to the batsmen. The youngbatsmen bought into his generous flight, and five of them fell trying to get him away and succumbed to his control. Gazi’s efforts have provided captainMushfiqur Rahim the relief of finding one bowler withwicket-taking confidence.In his third over, Gazi gave the visitors the opening wicket after AbulHasan and Rubel Hossain bowled an opening spell that didn’t cause the batsmen too many problems. Udara Jayasundera missed an off-break which turned just enough to take theoff stump, before Gazi had the home captain Angelo Perera stumped for 15just shortly following the lunch break.Gazi was given a break, during which time Mushfiqur tried out various bowling options and partnerships that weren’t successful. In that time, AshanPriyanjan and Vithanage added 159 for the fifth wicket.Gazi broke the stand when Priyanjan, on 83, tried to loft him over mid-onbut couldn’t clear Jahurul Islam. Niroshan Dickwella was out similarly,caught at mid-on, six overs later before the five-for was completed withthe wicket of Ishara Jayaratne in the 70th over.Vithanage, at the other end, progressed impressively against a Test attack, reaching hiscentury in the final session of play. Coming in to bat with a cap on, theVithanage, a left-hander, survived a few nervy moments at the start before playingmostly straight. He felt comfortable sweeping the ball, too, but most ofhis runs were brought about by his tendency to move towards the leg side even when thespinners pitched it up.Vithanage also took full toll of a flagging Bangladesh attack that was abowler short after the first hour. Abul Hasan threw up a couple of timesduring his first spell, suffering from dehydration and didn’t return tothe field for the rest of the day. Mushfiqur’s other concern would be asecond spinner.Elias Sunny, the left-arm spinner, is his only choice in the 15-man squad but he looked far from the accomplished first-class bowler he has been inthe last five years. He gave the left-handers more room, but wasn’t penetrative enough. Rubel had enough overs under hisbelt to feel confident and give the team management assurance that he isbuilding towards the Test match. Only Gazi will bowl with a wicket-taker’sconfidence, and Mushfiqur will look at his other options to provideeverything else if not the wickets.