Kumar Sangakkara scored his 34th Test century for Sri Lanka to take visitors on top at the end of first day’s play of the second Test in Chittagong on Tuesday. For the hosts Shakib Al Hasan struck back with two wickets to give Bangladesh something to cheer after a hard toil for six hours in Chittagong heat.
With this latest hundred Kumar Sangakkara became the leading century-maker among active Test players as Sri Lanka bounced back strongly after a shaky start which show them lose two early wickets in the morning session.
Sangakkara was on 160 not out as Sri Lanka reached on 314 for five at the close oof play on day 1 after captain Angelo Mathews had won the toss and opted to bat.
The classy left-hander put on a 178 for the third wicket with his long time partner Mahela Jayawardene (72) after Bangladesh picked up the openers Dimuth Karunaratne (31) and Kaushal Silva (11) very early. Sri Lanka at one stage were 49 for two when the old guard of Sangakkara and Jayawardene joined hands to rescue lions to a relative safety.
The 36-year-old Sangakkara former captain brought up his century with a fine leg-glance off Mahmudullah.
Jayawardene, who once again looked in fine form and was set for his 34th Test hundred, was out leg before to Mahmudullah trying to play across the line.
Sangakkara and Vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal (27) then put together a 67 run partnership for the fourth wicket before the latter was caught at point when he danced down the wicket to left-arm spinner Shakib.
Bangladesh’s best bowler on Day1, Shakib Al-Hasan, then bowled captain Mathews for just five late in the day to bring cheers on face of his team-mates on what otherwise was a hard toiling day for the hosts.
Bangladesh, who lost the first test in Dhaka by an innings and 248 runs, made few changes into their team ahead of second Test matc. Marshall Ayub, Rubel Hossain and Robiul Islam all were dropped from the team and were replaced by batsman Imrul Kayes, all-rounder Mahmudullah and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak.
For the visitors Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep and off-spinner spinner Ajantha Mendis came in to the team in place of injured Shaminda Eranga and Rangana Herath respectively as the visitors look to win the series 2-0.
