BAN vs SL 1st Test: Sri Lanka Crush Bangladesh in Dominant First Test Victory

Sri Lanka displayed a complete performance, outclassing Bangladesh by a massive 328 runs in the first Test of the two-match series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. This comprehensive victory showcased Sri Lanka’s strength in both batting and bowling. Meanwhile, the island nation leads two-match BAN vs SL Test series by 1-0.

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The fourth day of the Test was an enthralling battle between the two Asian sides. Bangladesh, resuming at a precarious 47/5, needed a monumental effort to avoid defeat. Mominul Haque, Bangladesh’s most experienced batsman, rose to the challenge, putting up a determined fight against Sri Lanka’s potent bowling attack. His composure at the crease kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay for a significant period.

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🇱🇰 vs 🇧🇩 – Test Series

Coverage Powered by Thambapanni @flysrilankan Green Electric Manoj Solangaarachchi#sportspavilionlk #SLvBAN #SLvsBAN #BANvsSL pic.twitter.com/7e5nSrYnQu

— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) March 21, 2024

Sri Lanka, however, didn’t let Bangladesh off the hook for long. They quickly dismissed Taijul Islam in the first over of the day, putting further pressure on the hosts. However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz joined Mominul and provided valuable support. The duo played sensibly, rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking with well-timed shots.

Just when it looked like Bangladesh might be building a partnership, Sri Lanka struck back. Kasun Rajitha, Sri Lanka’s pace bowler, dismissed Mehidy with a well-directed delivery, breaking the crucial 66-run stand.

Recognizing the importance of Mominul’s wicket, Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers switched tactics, employing the short-ball strategy. While Mominul had a few close calls, he managed to survive and keep Bangladesh’s hopes alive. He, along with the tailenders, reached lunch relatively unscathed at 129/7.

The second session saw a similar pattern emerge. Rajitha nearly dismissed Shoriful Islam, but a dropped catch by Dhananjaya de Silva at first slip gave Bangladesh a lifeline. However, Rajitha quickly rectified his mistake by dismissing both Shoriful and Khaled Ahmed in quick succession, leaving Bangladesh on the brink of defeat.

Faced with imminent collapse, Mominul launched a counter-attack. He entertained the crowd with a six and some boundaries, briefly giving Bangladesh a glimmer of hope. However, Lahiru Kumara, Sri Lanka’s other pace bowler, ended his resistance with a wicket, dismissing the last remaining batsman and securing a resounding victory for Sri Lanka.

BAN vs SL 1st Test: Earlier Dominance by Sri Lanka Sets the Stage

Looking back at the entire Test, Sri Lanka’s dominance began earlier. After Bangladesh opted to bowl first, Sri Lanka found themselves in a spot of bother, losing their top order cheaply. However, a magnificent partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis turned the tide in their favor. The duo stitched together a 202-run stand, propelling Sri Lanka to a respectable first-innings total of 280 runs.

In reply, Bangladesh’s batting faltered. Sri Lanka’s pace trio of Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, and Lahiru Kumara shared all ten wickets, dismissing Bangladesh for a meager 188 runs. This left Sri Lanka with a commanding lead of 92 runs.

Second Innings Heroics by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’s Batting Woes

Sri Lanka, batting in their second innings, opted to extend their lead further. Once again, the duo of Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis played starring roles, scoring centuries and putting Bangladesh under immense pressure. They built a solid foundation, and by the time they were dismissed, Sri Lanka had declared their innings at a mammoth 418 runs.

In Sylhet, 🇱🇰 Skipper made history with two outstanding achievements:

1. Silva and Mendis entered history as the third pair worldwide to score two 150 partnerships in a Test Match
2. They also became the third pair to score two tests 💯 after a decade. #BANvsSL #SLvsBAN #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/xWss9sQPAr

— Riz-Babar Army 🇵🇰🏏 (@RizBabarArmy) March 25, 2024

This set Bangladesh an improbable target of 647 runs for victory. Unfortunately for the home team, their batting woes continued. They were bundled out for just 182 runs, handing Sri Lanka a resounding victory by a margin of 328 runs.

Player of the Match: Dhananjaya de Silva

Dhananjaya de Silva, with his crucial contributions in both innings with the bat, was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match award. His gritty century in the first innings and his partnership with Mendis in the second innings laid the platform for Sri Lanka’s dominant win.

This comprehensive victory gives Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the two-match BAN vs SL Test series. They will be brimming with confidence heading into the second Test, which is scheduled to start on March 30th. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need to regroup and come up with a much better performance to level the series.