Sandakan got 2 wickets in 2 balls and ended the day with figures of 3 for 65 Getty Images
Sandakan got 2 wickets in 2 balls and ended the day with figures of 3 for 65 Getty Images

Bangladesh made a good comeback on Day Two of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo, only to throw it away in the last half an hour of day s play. After folding up the Sri Lankan innings for 338, their openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar made a solid start by putting up 95 runs on the board. Once the two openers were dismissed, Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman consolidated their team s position by getting involved in a 62-run third wicket stand. But it was all mayhem from there as Bangladesh imploded once again, going from 192 for 2 to 198 for 5, before ending the day on 214 for 5. Full Cricket Scorecard: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Colombo

At stumps, Shakib Al Hasan 18(8)* and Mushfiqur Rahim 2(7)* were unbeaten at the crease. Both the teams shared the honours for the day as after the first session, which went jointly to both the teams, the second and third sessions were taken by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively. For Sri Lanka, Lakshan Sandakan was the standout performer with his figures of 3 for 65.

After bundling out Sri Lanka for 338, Bangladesh were approaching lunch without losing a wicket before Rangana Herath sent back Tamim for 49. Sarkar and Kayes then continued to go strong before Sarkar departed for 61. He was cleaned up by Sandakan, thus becoming the Chinaman bowler s first victim.

Kayes and Sabbir, who was promoted up the order and batted at No. 4 for the first time in his Test career, played sensibly to build on the start provided by the openers. However, brain-fade moments towards the end of day s play saw Bangladesh lose quick wickets.

Kayes was the first to go, when he was adjudged LBW after a wrong un from Sandakan kept low and hit his pads. On the very next ball, nightwatchman Taijul Islam was given LBW as well after technology s intervention. Bangladesh wasted a review on him, would you believe that?

Sabbir did not last long, as Bangladesh lost third wicket in the space of seven balls. Sabbir fell to a short ball to leg gully. It was a trap which he fell for; a fast, rising delivery on his ribcage which took him by surprise, and forced to give a simple catch to Dhananjaya de Silva at leg gully.

To nobody s surprise, Bangladesh imploded, just as they have invariably over last one year. They could have easily been 6 down, as Shakib was hell-bent on throwing his wicket away. He played one shot too many and was even given a reprieve. However, he has survived for now. It will be interesting to see whether Shakib and Mushfiqur can do the repair job on Day Three and take Bangladesh closer to the Lankan total. The pitch was good for batting and the wickets Bangladesh lost were against the run of play. They would rue the collapse, but with two of their most senior batsmen in the middle and Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedi Hasan yet to come, they have still plenty to play for.

It will also be interesting to see how the pitch behaves on Day Three.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 338 in the first session. Dinesh Chandimal scored a fine hundred while Mehedi picked up 3 wickets.

Brief scores

Sri Lanka 338 lead Bangladesh 214 for 5 (Soumya Sarkar 61, Tamim Iqbal 49, Sabbir Rahman 42; Lakshan Sandakan 3 for 65, Suranga Lakmal 1 for 32, Rangana Herath 1 for 34) by 124 runs at stumps on Day 2.