Chandimal, Lakmal Take Sri Lanka To 338

Dinesh Chandimal brought up his eight Test hundred to add to Bangladesh frustration as Sri Lanka raced to 338 in an extended morning session on Day 2 of the second Test at the P Sara Oval, on Thursday (March 16). The hosts added exactly 100 to their overnight score, led by Chandimal's gritty ton, to stage a remarkable comeback after being reduced to 70 for 4 at lunch a day ago.

Resuming from their overnight score of 238 for 7, both Chandimal and Rangana Herath were cautious in their approach in the morning before the latter fell to Shakib Al Hasan, shortly after raising the fifty stand. The hosts had just crossed the 250-run mark when the Sri Lankan captain gave away a thick outside edge to first slip where Soumya Sarkar pulled off a juggling catch.

While he also had the responsibility to shield his partner Suranga Lakmal, Chandimal did not hesitate from going after the loose deliveries and picking the boundaries on offer. Left to fend for himself with the tail-enders, Chandimal changed his approach soon after to move to 99 with a couple of cheeky boundaries. The dressing room stood up to applaud the fighting hundred that came off 224 deliveries.

Second over into his new spell, Mustafizur and Bangladesh thought they had got the big fish at last. That, however, was't meant to be. Knowing that he hadn't edged it, Chandimal called for an immediate review of a caught-behind appeal to have the on-field umpire S Ravi's decision overturned and add to Bangladesh's growing frustration. He went on to add 25 more before becoming Mehedi Hasan's first victim of the day.

Chandimal, who has been piercing gaps with considerable ease, failed to get the necessary elevation on an attempted slog sweep and hit it straight to the man at mid-wicket when Sri Lanka's scoreboard read 305.

Lakmal, who had contributed only seven to the 55-run ninth wicket stand, then took charge and slammed Mehedi Hasan for a 15-run over after the morning session was extended for half an hour. Roy put an end to his fireworks on 35 as Lakmal top-edged a pull straight into the hands of Sarkar at third-man that brought curtains down on Sri Lanka's first innings at 338.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 338 (Dinesh Chandimal 138, Suranga Lakmal 35; Mehedi Hasan 3-90, Mustafizur Rahman 2-50) vs Bangladesh.

(Cricbuzz)