Sri Lanka emphatically clinched the first Test against Bangladesh, securing a commanding victory by 328 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The visitors demonstrated superior batting and bowling prowess throughout the contest.
Sri Lanka's captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, was the standout performer, achieving the rare feat of scoring centuries in both innings (102 and 108). His exceptional performance earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Dhananjaya's partnership with Kamindu Mendis, who also scored two centuries in this match with a superb century in the second innings (164), set the foundation for Sri Lanka's dominance. Together, they propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable second-innings total of 418, establishing an insurmountable target of 511 runs for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's batting faltered throughout the match. In the first innings, they were dismissed for a meager 188, with only Taijul Islam offering some resistance with a score of 47.
The second innings mirrored their initial collapse, as Bangladesh crumbled for 182. A brief period saw them lose five wickets for just 47 runs. Mominul Haque provided a glimmer of hope with a tenacious 87, but it wasn't enough to alter the course of the match.
Sri Lanka's relentless pace attack overwhelmed the Bangladeshi batsmen. Kasun Rajitha led the charge, claiming an impressive eight wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara also bowled with pace and precision, consistently unsettling the Bangladeshi batters and claiming vital wickets.
This resounding victory underscores Sri Lanka's skill and determination. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their batting inconsistencies before the second Test in Chattogram.
“Individually, I am very happy. The way I performed helped the team as well, especially away from home. The wicket had something for the fast bowlers, so we talked about playing late and choosing the right shots. It paid off. Kamindu also batted really well on his comeback match,” Dhananjaya, the Sri Lankan captain, said to the broadcaster.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who failed as a batter, gave credit to Dhananjaya and Kamindu for their performance, and said his team need to improve their batting.
“We have a lot of work to do before the next Test, and we will come back with a plan to fight back strongly,” Najmul said.
