Bangladesh batsmen made a roaring
start to their tour of Sri Lanka, as Tamim Iqbal reeled off a rapid hundred,
with Mominul Haque and Liton Das also contributing with unbeaten
half-centuries. The Sri Lanka Board President’s XI does not feature a
particularly strong attack, given that the country’s second-string bowlers are
currently engaged in the Sri Lanka A team. However, a score of 391 for 7 will,
nonetheless, have the visiting batsmen approach the Galle Test with a measure
of confidence. Tamim’s 136 off 182 balls (retired out) came after a few modest
performances on tours of New Zealand and India, during which he scored only one
half-century in six Test innings.
Perhaps, it is because of this
brief stretch of indifferent form that he was not retired out earlier. In any
case, Tamim struck seven sixes and nine fours in his innings, and forged a
143-run second-wicket stand with Mominul, following it up by a 75-run
partnership for the third wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim. Mominul’s 73 (retired
out) also came at a brisk pace – off 103 balls – and featured 10 fours. Towards
the end of the day, Liton struck an unbeaten 64-ball 57 in what was an
important knock for the wicketkeeper-batsman, as he would be taking the gloves
from Mushfiqur and, as such, will feature in the XI for the first Test.
Meanwhile, Mahmudullah, who finds himself in competition with Sabbir Rahman for
a lower-order position, may not have done enough with his 73-ball 43 to
definitively win over the selectors’ favour. Chamika Karunaratne, the
20-year-old Tamil Union seam bowler, returned the best figures for the hosts,
taking 3 for 61. If the Board President’s XI bat tomorrow, Dinesh Chandimal’s
innings will be of particular interest in light of him having failed to cross
fifty on the recent tour of South Africa. Tamim's 136 off 182 balls (retired
out) came after a few modest performances on tours of New Zealand and India,
during which he scored only one half-century in six Test innings.
Perhaps, it is because of this
brief stretch of indifferent form that he was not retired out earlier. In any
case, Tamim struck seven sixes and nine fours in his innings, and forged a
143-run second-wicket stand with Mominul, following it up by a 75-run
partnership for the third wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim. Mominul's 73 (retired
out) also came at a brisk pace - off 103 balls - and featured 10 fours. Towards
the end of the day, Liton struck an unbeaten 64-ball 57 in what was an
important knock for the wicketkeeper-batsman, as he would be taking the gloves
from Mushfiqur and, as such, will feature in the XI for the first Test.
Meanwhile, Mahmudullah, who finds
himself in competition with Sabbir Rahman for a lower-order position, may not
have done enough with his 73-ball 43 to definitively win over the selectors'
favour.
Chamika Karunaratne, the
20-year-old Tamil Union seam bowler, returned the best figures for the hosts,
taking 3 for 61. If the Board President's XI bat tomorrow, Dinesh Chandimal's
innings will be of particular interest in light of him having failed to cross
fifty on the recent tour of South Africa.
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