First Test against Bangladesh: Sri Lanka make steady progress after early trouble

Sri Lanka made steady progress after early trouble as they reached 158-2 at tea on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday.

Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews led the resistance, sharing 92-run for the undefeated third wickets stand. Both of the batters were batting on identical 54 runs at the second interval of the day, reports BSS.

Offspinner Nayeem Hasan, playing his first Test since February last year, remains Bangladesh's most successful bowler till this session with 2-58.

He took the wicket of Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando, leaving Sri Lanka at 66-2.

Sri Lanka opted to bat first after winning the toss and Fernando looked solid but Nayeem troubled Karunaratne with his wily off-spin. Especially, his quicker delivery was tougher for Karunaratne to deal with.

He eventually had the Lankan captain leg-before with a quicker one for 9.

Meanwhile, Fernando found the boundaries at regular intervals to keep Bangladesh fielders busy. He further grew with confidence, hitting left-arm spinner a six over the long-on region.

But he got out just before the lunch, trying to defend another quicker delivery of Nayeem. He reviewed the decision immediately but in vain.

Mendis and Mathews then kept Sri Lanka unscathed in the whole second session on a wicket that looked pretty flat.

Bangladesh only created a chance to get a wicket when Mathews poked a turning delivery of left-arm spinner Taijul Islam to wicketkeeper Liton Das when on 38.

However, after some hesitation, he reviewed the decision and it turned out to be gold for him as he survived.

He then dominated the bowlers along with Mendis as Sri Lanka looked heading towards a big first-innings total.

Mathews so far struck five fours and one six for his 114 ball-54 while Mendis clobbered three boundaries for his 54.

Before the match, a minute's silence was observed at the stadium in the memory of former Australian Test player Andrew Symonds, who died in an auto accident late Saturday night near the northeastern Australian city of Townsville.