Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI v Bangladeshis, 1st day
Bangladesh taken to the cleaners
Cricinfo staff
September 8, 2005
Bangladesh 31 for 1 and 195 trail Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI 412 (Jeevan Mendis 95, Gihan de Silva 74, Kalavitigoda, 59, Rasel 4-84) by 186 runs Scorecard
Jeevan Mendis (95) and Gihan de Silva (74) powered Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI (SLC) to 412 gaining a lead of 217 in reply to Bangladesh's first innings of 195. Bangladesh were 31 for 1 at the close, still trailing by 186 runs when play resumes on the third and final day tomorrow.
In the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Rafique, both suffering from injury, Bangladesh's second-string bowling attack took a pummelling from the SLC Development batsmen especially Mendis and de Silva who put together an entertaining partnership of 110 in 91 minutes for the seventh wicket. Mendis made 95 off 143 balls (one six, 14 fours). De Silva scored 74 off 104 balls with seven fours.
The overnight pair of Shantha Kalavitigoda and Tilan Samaraweera failed to take advantage of a weak Bangladesh bowling attack and dawdled at the crease without keeping the scoreboard ticking. Kalavitigoda added just five runs in 48 minutes to his overnight total of 54 before over cautiousness cost him his wicket when he was out edging an outswinger from Syed Rasel to Mashud.
Samaraweera also adopted the same defensive attitude and failed to get the score moving. He did not score a single boundary for 89 balls moving from 10 to 37 and was finally dismissed for 48 scored in 178 minutes off 140 balls with five fours. For a Test batsman enjoying a Test average of 47 he should have taken the Bangladesh bowling to task, but instead allowed them to dictate terms on the field, which eventually led to his downfall.
Syed Rasel gave the Bangladesh selectors some food for thought by producing a fine bowling performance, which may see him force his way into the Test team. He finished with figures of 4 for 85, two of which came off successive deliveries with the second new ball. Not only did the Bangladesh bowlers lack that extra pace and control but were also guilty of sending down 25 no-balls in a total of 48 extras.
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