Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews century highlights on Day 1 of first Test

Honors were shared on the first day of the opening Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. On a decent track to bat on, the Lankans racked up 258/4 after Angelo Mathews scored his 12th Test century off 183 balls.

After electing to bat first, the visitors didn’t get off to the best of starts as Nayeem Hasan removed the in-form Dimuth Karunaratne. Oshada Fernando, Karunaratne’s opening partner, got into the playing XI right away after missing the Test series in India two months ago.

He scored 36 runs in a 43-run partnership with Kusal Mendis before Hasan found his outside edge. Fernando used the DRS for the caught-behind dismissal, but to no avail. Mendis, on the other hand, went on to score a half-century off 93 balls and looked good for a big score.

But left-arm spinner Taijul Islam removed him and broke an ominous-looking 92-run partnership between Mendis and Mathews. Dhananjaya de Silva has been a prolific scorer for the Islanders in the purest format, but on Sunday, he failed to surpass the single-digit score.

Magura-born Shakib Al Hasan, who recently recovered from Covid-19, accounted for his wicket. Earlier, there were doubts over Shakib’s participation and head coach Russell Domingo sounded apprehensive of including the 50 percent fit all-rounder.

Shakib didn’t disappoint as he bowled seven maidens in 19 overs at an economy of 1.42. Amid the regular fall of wickets, Mathews didn’t lose his cool and stayed unbeaten on 114 at the close of play. Having smashed 14 fours and one six, the veteran showed his utility in the lineup.

Dinesh Chandimal, another experienced campaigner, lent Mathews support and stayed not out on 34. The Bangladesh fast bowlers, Shoriful Islam and Khaled Ahmed, toiled hard for 24 overs, but couldn’t make a breakthrough.