Despite having pushed host Bangladesh to the wall, dismissing four Tigers batsmen for just 56 runs in the first innings, Sri Lanka batting coach Thilan Samaraweera opined that the second and final Test match in Dhaka is hanging finely in the balance at stumps on day one Thursday.
The Lankans were restricted for just 222 in the first innings after the visiting side opted to bat on a low and slow track at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. But aided by the bowlers, the tourist bounced back as seamer Suranga Lakmal initiated the first blow removing opener Tamim Iqbal for four in the first over of the innings. Lakmal on the day claimed one more wicket, that of former Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck, while spinner Dilruwan Parera bagged the wicket of opener Imrul Kayes for 19. The in-form Mominul Haque, meanwhile, was too casual while running between the wickets and fell for a run-out without troubling the scorer.
"I think the game is still balanced because we have to take another six wickets, we have to bat another innings and we have to bowl them out in another innings. For me, I think we were 30 runs short. Normally, on a Dhaka wicket 240, 250 is a very good score. But at the end of the day we took four wickets. Four top-order batters. I think game is still in balance," said former Sri Lankan cricketer Samaraweera.
A lot has been discussed regarding the behaviour of the Mirpur wicket and how both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would react having returned from a run-frenzy Test in Chittagong last week.
"I think this is the Dhaka pitch. [Against] England, Australia we played on the same pitches. You can't say unplayable. But from Chittagong to here, two different extremes. But Test cricket is dying these days, and you have to produce result pitches. I think I am happier with this than the Chittagong one," said the former right-handed batsman.
"I think on the Chittagong pitch if you bat straight, it is hard to get out. But here you have to look to score runs, because any time you can get a good ball," he added.
Samaraweera credited opener Kusal Mendis for scoring 68 amid difficult condition. Later, the tail-enders pushed the total to 222. However, Samaraweera still feels they fell 30-40 short.
"I think excellent, but the biggest thing is Kusal Mendis' 60 [68]. That 60 came very quickly, it was a massive part of the batting because on this pitch it is not easy to score fast, but he batted on a different track in the morning. We have to give credit to the tail-enders and Roshen Silva, they batted well. But if we scored 250-260 (I would have been)," said Samaraweera.
