Herath believes wicket still good for batting

Veteran Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath believes it is still a batting-friendly wicket at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium as the visiting side posted a solid 187-run unbroken partnership for the second wicket after losing an early dismissal in their first Test match against host Bangladesh Thursday. “I still see it as a batsman-friendly wicket. They made 500-plus and we are 187 for one. It looks like an even contest now. We need to score the 300 runs first before getting into any kind of situation,” said Herath during the post-day press conference in the port city. Herath initiated the first breakthrough on day two as the left-arm spinner took the crucial wicket of No 3 batsman Mominul Haque, who was unbeaten overnight on 175. Bangladesh lost regular wickets from then and registered 513 in the end. Herath took three wickets conceding 150 runs.

Stumps on Day 2, Sri Lanka are 187/1 (48 ovs) Dhananjaya de Silva (104*) register his 4th Test Century, Kusal Mendis on 83*. Sri Lanka trail by 326 runs. #BANvSL pic.twitter.com/ySS94GHMh8

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) February 1, 2018

“Mominul made 175 runs, which I think was a special innings. It is a big achievement for him. Mushfiqur [Rahim] and Mahmudullah batted well. It is still a good batting wicket,” he said. The pitch is not offering that much assistance to the spinners yet but the experienced Lankan still believes the slow bowlers will play a crucial role from day three onwards. “There’s something for the spinners from the third day onwards. I can see some turn even after tea [Thursday]. We first need to score the 300 runs we are behind. Then after that, we can see what kind of surface it becomes. From there we can decide which direction we can go,” Herath concluded.