SL vs BAN: De Silva, Kamindu fire as Sri Lanka crushes Bangladesh in first test

Having set Bangladesh a mammoth victory target of 511 after Kamindu scored 164 and De Silva 108 in the second innings in Sylhet, Sri Lanka bowled out the host for 182 in 49.2 overs.

Published : Mar 25, 2024 13:53 IST , BENGALURU - 2 MINS READ

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka cricketers walk back to the pavilion at the end of the first Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on March 25, 2024. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN / AFP) | Photo Credit: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN

Sparkling centuries by middle-order batsman Kamindu Mendis and captain Dhananjaya de Silva helped Sri Lanka thrash Bangladesh by 328 runs on the fourth day of the opening test on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Having set Bangladesh a mammoth victory target of 511 after Kamindu scored 164 and De Silva 108 in the second innings in Sylhet, Sri Lanka bowled out the host for 182 in 49.2 overs.

Kamindu and De Silva stitched together a 173-run partnership on the third day as Sri Lanka made 418 all out, marking only the third time that two 150-plus stands had been shared in one test match by the same pair.

Bangladesh lost half their side on Sunday with only 47 on the board - still needing 464 for victory - and folded after a late fightback on the fourth day, with Kasun Rajitha taking 5-56 and Vishwa Fernando claiming 3-36.

ALSO READ: IPL 2024: It did not look like Shubman was leading for the first time, says Sai Kishore

Mominul Haque offered resistance with an unbeaten 87 but could not prevent the inevitable.

Earlier in the match, knocks of 102 by Kamindu and De Silva were outstanding performances on a challenging wicket as Sri Lanka was dismissed for 280 on the opening day.

After Bangladesh’s Khaled Ahmed and Nahid Rana took six wickets, it was the turn of Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers to shine, and they ripped through the hosts to secure a 92-run lead.

Fernando captured four wickets while Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara bagged three each before Dimuth Karunaratne’s 36th test half-century helped the tourists increase their lead late on the second day.

The second test begins in Chattogram on March 30.