Tea Bangladesh 428 for 7 (Shakib 116, Sandakan 4-131) lead Sri Lanka 338 (Chandimal 138, Mehedi 3-90) by 90 runs
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Shakib Al Hasan notched up his fifth Test century to give Bangladesh a first-innings lead for only the second time in an away Test © AFP
Shakib Al Hasan reached his fifth Test hundred in one of several milestones during the second session of the third day’s play in Colombo. Bangladesh breezed past Sri Lanka’s first-innings 338 to lead by 90 runs.
Shakib’s knock apart, Mosaddek Hossain notched up a fifty on Test debut, and Bangladesh took a first-innings lead for only the second time while batting second in an away Test, having last done so in Galle in 2013.
Bangladesh added 112 runs in the middle session, after a conservative start to the day. Mosaddek started off with a stunning square drive, before a short-arm punch through midwicket got them the precious lead. Soon, Shakib got his third life – Upul Tharanga had dropped him on 11 and Dinesh Chandimal had thrown wide when he was way out of his crease on 40 – with Niroshan Dickwella dropping an under edge when he was on 67.
Shakib continued merrily and got to the century in the 111th over with a well-timed sweep off Dilruwan Perera. But three overs later, he became Lakshan Sandakan’s fourth wicket when he holed out to mid-on for 116, ending a seventh-wicket partnership of 131. His eventful 159-ball stay contained ten fours, but it was an innings that was more about how he curbed his aggression for long periods on the third morning.
Earlier, Shakib, along with Mushfiqur Rahim, batted out the first nine overs quietly. But with Sri Lanka’s bowlers regularly offering up full and wide deliveries from there on, the pair started picking boundaries. But immediately after taking the second new ball, Lakmal removed Mushfiqur for 52 with a full inswinger.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo