The second session of day 3 of the BAN vs SL second Test 2022 was rained out. Both teams must approach the game with an aggressive mindset if they want to win the contest. If not, the game will most likely finish in a disappointing draw. Prior to the rain, Sri Lanka scored 210/4 in response to Bangladesh's 365. With only two days remaining in the match, Bangladesh must bat aggressively in their second innings in their quest to clinch the series. The BAN vs SL Second Test Match Scenario Bangladesh got off to a bad start in the series-deciding Test at SBNCS in Dhaka, losing five wickets for 24 runs. The hosts were guided to a dominant total of 365 owing to Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das's stunning 272-run sixth-wicket partnership. Litton Das’s great run of form in Test cricket has continued as 141 runs came from his willow. It was Litton’s sixth fifty-plus score in 13 innings, which clearly indicates that he is enjoying the format at the moment. On the other hand, Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten with 175*. Read Litton Das: The Classical Bangladeshi Batter Discovers Rhythm in Test Cricket The biggest surprise in the first innings was the performance of the Sri Lankan pacers. Both Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando were brilliant with the ball. They picked up 9 wickets, while the other one was run out. None of the Lankan spinners got a wicket in the innings. Trailing by 365 runs, the Sri Lankan openers made an aggressive start by putting up a 95-run partnership at 3.65 economy rates. Their positive mindset forced Bangladesh on the defense. However, Bangladesh did take a couple of wickets as Sri Lanka closed day-1 on 143/2. Bangladesh bowled 24.1 overs in the morning session of Day 3 before the rain interrupted the play. They lost two more wickets for a total of 67 runs. Bangladesh bowlers were economical and focused on making the Sri Lankan batters work even harder. However, the second session was totally abandoned due to heavy rain. Read BAN vs SL Second Test 2022: Mushfiqur-Litton Partnership Evaluation in Records Book What should be Bangladesh's approach in the third innings? With two more days left in the contest, Bangladesh's team management should reflect the scenario properly before it’s too late. The hosts need to adopt a more aggressive approach in order to overcome the visitors on day 4. Players need to raise their performance level on the field and have to show urgency to bowl Sri Lanka out as early as possible. They also can't afford to be in a position where they could lose the battle. Sri Lanka will bat for how long? What will their ultimate score be at the end of the first innings? This will help Bangladesh in formulating a strategy for the third innings. One thing is certain: they will need to bat aggressively in order to set a challenging target for the Lankans. Furthermore, the number of overs Sri Lanka bats in the fourth innings will determine the final outcome of the BAN vs SL second Test 2022 match. In the present match conditions, it's crucial to know the Bangladesh team's performance record in the third innings at the SBNCS, Mirpur. Bangladesh have batted eleven times in the third innings at this venue, with their best total of 312 coming against India in 2010. It was also the only occasion Bangladesh scored more than 300 runs in the third innings at Sher-e-Bangla. Bangladesh also failed to score more than 200 runs only once, against South Africa in 2008. They were all-out for 182 runs in that encounter against the Proteas national team. Read IPL 2022: The Qualified Teams in the Playoffs and Fixtures Bangladesh's top five third-innings total at SBNCS, Mirpur Score Overs Opposition Year 312 90.3 India 2010 296 66.5 England 2016 285 102 England 2010 269/3 89 New Zealand 2013 253 57.3 India 2007    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Bottom Line Bangladesh have never beaten Sri Lanka at home. Therefore, they have a great chance to beat the Lankans and win the series. Given the present scenario of the match, Bangladesh should adopt a positive mindset when they bat again in their second innings. Because playing safe would not put them in a position to win against Sri Lanka. However, the BAN vs SL Second Test 2022 will likely go down to the wire. Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Statistics Favour Spinners to be Game Changers in the Mirpur Test

Bangladesh had a difficult start against Sri Lanka in the first innings of the BAN vs SL Second Test 2022 at SBNCS, Mirpur. They lost five wickets in the first hour of the first session on day one, putting the team in a terrible position. Then, Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das collaborated on a stunning 272-run sixth-wicket partnership to help the Tigers make a remarkable comeback in the innings. Bangladesh finally scored 365 in their first innings, which would not have been possible without Mushfiqur and Litton's outstanding contributions. Highlights of the Mushfiqur-Litton Partnership Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim opted to bat first in the BAN vs SL Second Test 2022 on a surface where batters could flourish for at least the first two days. It is said that batters should see out the first hour of the morning session in Test cricket. Pace bowlers usually get a little more support from the pitch in the morning, allowing them to put pressure on batters if they maintain good line and length. The Lankan bowlers did just that to Bangladesh's batters. They bowled in the right channels and took advantage of the pitch's extra swing. However, Bangladesh's batters didn't confront Lankan pacers adequately, and they should be held responsible for losing half of their wickets in the first hour of the morning session. Read Dhaka Test: Sri Lanka trail by 222 after day 2 When Bangladesh were down to 24/5 at the end of the 6.5 overs, there was a risk of breaking their lowest-ever total – 43 records. The Lankan pacers were in perfect rhythm to do so. However, a monumental stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das rescued Bangladesh from what could possibly be an embarrassing moment in front of home crowds. Mushfiqur Rahim had focused on being steady at the crease by not taking any risks, whilst Litton Das was more aggressive. Litton did get a life soon after lunch When he was on 47. Fielder dropped his catch in the square leg region. Litton then began to attack the opposition bowlers, quickly completing his fifty. Oppositely, Mushfiqur Rahim was determined not to lose his wicket as he steadily constructed his innings. Both batters had reached their hundred after Tea. Litton was the first to reach the century mark, scoring his third Test hundred in 149 balls. After a few overs, Mushfiqur Rahim hit his ninth Test century in 218 balls. Bangladesh ended the first day with 277/5 runs on the board. Litton Das 135 and Mushfiqur Rahim 115 went undefeated on day one at the crease. Read Dhaka Test: Bangladesh end first innings on 365 The pair also added 19 runs together in the first session of day 2 before Litton Das (141) lost his wicket to Kasun Rajitha in the first ball of the eight overs. Litton hit 16 boundaries and a six in his innings and had a 57.31 strike rate. On the other hand, Mushfiqur Rahim stayed undefeated on 175* with 21 boundaries. This long-standing 272 runs off 513 balls partnership not only helped the team avoid an embarrassing moment, but also helped them to reach a respectable total of 365. The record-breaking Mushfiqur-Litton partnership Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das put together a stunning and crucial 272-run partnership for the sixth wicket. They produced several interesting records as a result of their partnership. Here are a few of them. 1)      This was the best-ever stand for the sixth wicket for Bangladesh. The previous best was 191 between Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim back in 2007 against Sri Lanka. Read Day 2 of Dhaka Test: Liton, Mosaddek depart early  The top five best sixth-wicket partnerships for Bangladesh Partners Runs Opposition Ground Year Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim 272 Sri Lanka Mirpur 2022 Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim 191 Sri Lanka Colombo 2007 Junaid Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim 167 England Chattogram 2010 Nasir Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan 144 West Indies Khulna 2012 Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hasan 117 Pakistan Mirpur 2011         Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ 2)      While constructing the 272-run big partnership, Litton and Mushfiqur faced a total of 513 balls. This was the third most in terms of balls faced for Bangladesh. Read Mushfiqur, Liton stand tall after disastrous start The top five partnerships in terms of balls faced for Bangladesh Partners Runs Balls Opposition Ground Year Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim 267 518 Sri Lanka Galle 2013 Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto 242 514 Sri Lanka Pallekele 2021 Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim 272 512 Sri Lanka Mirpur 2022 Javed Omar and Nafees Iqbal 133 498 Zimbabwe Dhaka 2005 Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan 359 494 New Zealand Wellington 2017    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ 3)      Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das had a 272-run partnership which is the third best in Bangladesh Test cricket history. Read IPL 2022: The Qualified Teams in the Playoffs and Fixtures Top Five Partnerships for Bangladesh  Partners Runs Wkts Opposition Ground Year Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim 359 5th New Zealand Wellington 2017 Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes 312 1st Pakistan Khulna 2015 Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das 272 6th Sri Lanka Mirpur 2022 Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim 267 5th Sri Lanka Galle 2013 Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim 266 4th Zimbabwe Mirpur 2018           Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Read Mushfiqur smashes another ton vs Sri Lanka Aftermath Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das' performances during the first innings of the match were undoubtedly among the finest in Bangladesh Test cricket history. It's also considered one of the greatest comebacks, since scoring 365 after falling to 24/5 wasn't straightforward. Both players showed commitment and courage in their innings, which paid off handsomely. Moreover, this could be a match-saving partnership depending on the outcome of the BAN vs SL Second Test 2022.

The ZACS Chattogram surface was suitable for batters for the first four days, and it was predicted before the BAN vs SL first Test 2022. The spinners found a groove from the last session of day 4 to the end of day 5. The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended in a draw, with little excitement among neutral supporters. However, fans in Bangladesh celebrated Mushfiqur Rahim's achievement of becoming the country's first player to surpass 5,000 Test runs. Here are five major takeaways for Bangladesh from the first match. First Test Match Report: BAN vs SL Series 2022   Sri Lanka understandably opted to bat first in the first Test in Chattogram, and they made 397 runs. Veteran Angelo Mathews was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, who guided the innings by playing a 199-run knock. Besides, Kusal Mendis (54) and Dinesh Chandimal (66) also had good contributions with the bat. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan picked up six wickets for the hosts. In reply, Bangladesh were all-out for 465 in the third session of day 4. Tamim Iqbal (133), and Mushfiqur Rahim (105) both scored centuries. It was a special match for Mushfiqur as he reached his 5,000 Test runs milestone. Apart from them, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (58) and Litton Das (88) made two valuable contributions with the bat for the Tigers. Medium-pacer Kasun Rajitha picked up the highest 4 wickets for the Lankan side. Bangladesh did manage to pick up a couple of wickets before the end of day 4 and four more wickets in the second session of day 5. However, an unbeaten 99*-run partnership between Dinesh Chandimal (39) and Niroshan Dickwella (61) saved the match for the visitors. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (52) also made a fifty for his side. In Sri Lanka's second innings, left-arm orthodox spinner Taijul Islam bagged four wickets for Bangladesh. Angelo Mathews won the Player of the Match award for his outstanding contribution with the bat in the first innings. Major Outcomes for Bangladesh from the First Test of the Series The series-opening match against Sri Lanka produced some notable outcomes for Bangladesh. The majority of the discussion topics revolve around batting since the batters dominated most of the contest. Read: Shoriful ruled out of second Test vs Sri Lanka Mushfiqur Rahim Hits the 5000 Test Runs Milestone Bangladesh’s big takeaway from the match was Mushfiqur Rahim’s 5,000 runs milestone in the Test format. He became the first Bangladeshi player to achieve the feat by scoring 105 runs in the first innings of Bangladesh. Though Tamim had a chance to reach the landmark before Mushfiqur, he retired hurt on 133 due to a muscle strain. At that moment, Tamim was 19 runs away from scoring his 5,000 Test runs. Mushfiqur Rahim was under pressure prior to this series for not being able to play to his full potential. He was even warned by BCB's president that the selectors may consider dropping Mushfiqur if his barren run with the bat continues. So, it was a perfect response by Bangladesh’s most dependable batter. Overall, Mushfiqur Rahim has scored 5,037 runs in 81 matches with an average of 36.76. In Tests, he has a total of 825 fifties. Top five most runs for Bangladesh in Tests Player Match Runs HS Ave 100s Mushfiqur Rahim 81 5,037 219* 36.76 8 Tamim Iqbal 66 4,981 206 40.16 10 Shakib Al Hasan 60 4,055 217 39.36 5 Mominul Haque 52 3,516 181 39.06 11 Habibul Bashar 50 3,026 113 30.87 3     Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Tamim Iqbal’s Aggressive Hundred Tamim made 133 off 218 balls in Bangladesh's first innings, striking the ball at a rate of 61. It was his 10th Test century and 25 overall. Tamim Iqbal has changed his batting style in the longer-version format in recent years. He is now more aggressive than he used to be and always tries to attack the opposition bowling attack. That is why Tamim’s strike rate over the last five years has been one of the best in the world. He has had the third-best strike rate among the openers (minimum 10 innings) in the Test format since 2017. Top five best strike rates by the openers since 2017 (at least 10 innings)  Player Innings Runs Strike Rates HS 100s Shikhar Dhawan (India) 19 851 83.75 190 3 Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) 14 307 65.73 64 0 Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) 41 1593 64.07 133 2 David Warner (Australia) 63 2660 61.50 335* 7 Aiden Markram (South Africa) 53 1900 59.33 152 5    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Nayeem Hasan has the potential to replace Mehidy Hasan Miraz Nayeem Hasan had a great outing in this match, coming on to replace the injured Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The off-spinner made his Test debut almost four years ago against the West Indies in 2018. Since then, he has taken 31 wickets in 8 matches, including his career-best 6/105 against Sri Lanka in the first innings of the first Test in Chattogram. Nayeem’s bowling in the first innings was sparkling and caused real trouble for the Lankan batters. More importantly, most of his wickets were crucial. After this strong showing with the ball, Nayeem has definitely established a genuine case for himself with the selectors to consider him regularly for the longer-version format. If not, he should be the first choice if Mehidy Miraz falls victim to any injury in the future. Read: Chattogram Test: Bangladesh in driving seat Bangladesh's defensive batting strategy on the fourth day Since the pitch was suited to the batters, it was anticipated that runs would score in the first match. Expectedly, the batters did flourish from day 1 to day 4, as 901 runs had been scored for the loss of 22 wickets, averaging 225.25 runs per day. However, the run rate came down to 2.58 on day 4, which indicates players took a cautious approach to their batting. Since Bangladesh batted the whole day on day four, except for the last 17 overs, the blame should go to the home side in case of lower run rates. Mushfiqur Rahim, who was praised for reaching his 5,000 Test runs milestone on that particular day, was the main culprit for low run rates. Rahim had to play 285 balls for his 105 runs on a relatively very good batting surface. One can argue that the Bangladesh team should blame themselves for not creating a winning situation because of their defensive batting approach. Aftermath Bangladesh played safe and earned a draw in the BAN vs SL first Test 2022. The Tigers' team campaign had set the expectation that they would strive for a win against a relatively inexperienced Lankan side. However, Bangladesh did not appear worried about winning the match at any stage throughout the game. They took a defensive approach and got the outcome they wanted. Bangladesh should adjust its strategy for the second Test in Dhaka. The pitches at Mirpur would be more favorable to spinners, therefore the match should produce a result. 

For over 15 years, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim have been representing Bangladesh's national team in all formats. Their contribution to elevating Bangladesh cricket to new heights is unparalleled. These two are Bangladesh's highest run scorers on the international stage. They are regularly passing each other on the leaderboard of most run getters. These two veterans have the chance to attain special milestones in the ongoing BAN vs SL Series 2022. So, what exactly is this great milestone? Approaching milestones for Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim have a long list of international records and honors. These two seasoned cricketers are on the verge of accomplishing historic feats, which they hope to attain during the BAN vs SL Series 2022. Five Thousand Runs in Test Cricket Middle-order batter Mushfiqur Rahim is currently leading the most Test run scorers chart for Bangladesh with 4,932 runs. He is only 68 runs away from becoming the first Bangladesh player to score 5,000 runs in the Test format. Scoring five thousand Test runs is always a special achievement, which shows the amount of time a player has played the longer-version of cricket. Read Where to Watch BAN vs SL Test Series 2022 Live Streaming from Bangladesh? Mushfiqur made his Test debut against England in May 2005. His highest Test innings is 219 against Zimbabwe in 2018. He is the only Bangladesh batter to have three double hundreds in Tests. Mushfiqur is undoubtedly hoping to reach the milestone in the first match of the BAN vs SL series 2022. On the other hand, the left-hand opener, Tamim Iqbal is in the second position on the most Test run scorers chart for Bangladesh with 4,848 runs. He needs 152 runs to hit the 5,000-run mark in the longer-version format. Tamim Iqbal played his debut Test match away from home against New Zealand in 2008. His best Test innings is 206 against Pakistan. Both players can attain this unique feat in the ongoing first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. However, the most intriguing factor is who will become the first Bangladeshi to reach the 5,000-run mark in Test cricket. Tamim Iqbal, as an opener, will get an edge over Mushfiqur Rahim. But Mushfiqur can capitalize on an opportunity if Tamim fails with the bat in the first innings. Regardless of who becomes the first player to reach the milestone, both are likely to celebrate their unique achievements at the end of this Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka bilateral Test series. Read BAN vs SL 2022: Bangladesh eye to win the first Test against Sri Lanka Bangladesh's top five run scorers in Tests Player Innings Runs HS Ave 100s Mushfiqur Rahim 148 4,932 219* 36.26 7 Tamim Iqbal 125 4,848 206 39.41 9 Shakib Al Hasan 109 4,029 217 39.50 5 Mominul Haque 95 3,514 181 39.48 11 Habibul Bashar 99 3,026 113 30.87 3    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Read Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds dies in road crash Bottom Line  Both Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim are crucial for Bangladesh in the BAN vs SL Series 2022. They both have a unique role to play in the contest, which might have a significant effect on the series' outcome. Besides, the opportunity to achieve 5,000 runs in the Test format will surely inspire them to do even better in this bilateral series.

The national men's cricket team of Sri Lanka is set to arrive in Bangladesh in the second week of May for a two-match Test series against the hosts. The series will begin in Chattogram on May 15 and will be part of the ICC Test Championship's second edition. The Bangladesh Cricket Board named a 16-man team for the longer-version contest on Sunday. The squad includes all of the expected names, ensuring that a full-strength team will challenge the Sri Lankan Test side. Check out Bangladesh's squad for the BAN vs SL series 2022. Bangladesh’s Test Squad for BAN vs SL Series 2022 The BCB named a 16-man squad on April 24 for the Test series against Sri Lanka. Shadman Islam and Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi were not selected for the upcoming series because of their recent performances on the international stage. In-form Taskin Ahmed was not selected due to an injury. Oppositely, Shoriful Islam was picked, although his participation in the series will be contingent on his fitness. Furthermore, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was not considered for this longer-version contest. Read: BAN vs SL Series 2022: Mustafizur's versatile bowling could have been beneficial for Bangladesh The ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who missed the South Africa series due to family obligations, has returned to the Test team. Promising cricketer Rejaur Rahman Raja has also been included in the squad as the fifth pacer. All of the anticipated names were selected for the Sri Lanka series, which will be led by Mominul Haque. Tamim Iqbal is poised to open Bangladesh's innings alongside promising youngster Mahmudul Hasan Joy. Bangladesh will have a good chance of winning the Test series because the Sri Lankan team is likely to be inexperienced. Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test Series 2022 Fixtures First Test: May 15-19 May | Venue: ZACS, Chattogram Second Test: 23-27 May | Venue: SBNCS, Dhaka Read IPL 2022: Jos Buttler's Record-Breaking Knock Helps Rajasthan Reach the Top Bangladesh Squad:  Mominul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Mahedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam, Shoriful Islam. The Major Highlights of the Declared Squad Shadman Islam and Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi dropped The selectors decided to leave both Shadman Islam and Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi out of the series against Sri Lanka since they have struggled in the recent international Test series for Bangladesh. Shadman Islam has scored 284 runs in his past 14 innings, including a century and a half-century, according to statistics dating back to January 2021. On the other hand, Abu Jayed Rahi has only taken 6 wickets in his last six innings since 2021. Read: Bangladesh announces squad for Sri Lanka series Shakib Al Hasan is back in the squad Due to family obligations, Shakib Al Hasan was unable to participate in the Test series against South Africa. Shakib's mother was ill, and his mother-in-law died of cancer in April. Shakib's inclusion in the Bangladesh squad will undoubtedly benefit the team. Mustafizur Rahman overlooked Bangladesh's most talented pacer, Mustafizur Rahman last played a Test match in early 2021 against the West Indies, and he hasn't played any of Bangladesh's past ten Test matches. Mustafizur Rahman isn't interested in playing the longer-version format, preferring instead to concentrate on the shorter formats. However, Mustafizur's bowling could have been quite effective against Sri Lanka in Bangladesh's conditions. Mustafizur should have been selected for the series by the selectors. Read Mosharraf Hossain Rubel: The late cricketer's major achievements as a player Uncapped Rejaur Rahman Raja included  Pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja was named for the Pakistan series in December but did not play a single international match. The right-arm medium-fast bowler has 36 first-class wickets at an average of 24.61 in 11 matches. Rejaur Rahman's bowling abilities might surprise everyone if he is given a chance to play against Sri Lanka. Bottom Line Bangladesh team is expected to start the series against Sri Lanka as favourites, thanks to a full-strength Test lineup. Bangladesh will be able to overcome a relatively weak Sri Lankan Test side if they play to their full potential. Furthermore, this Sri Lankan squad recently suffered a humiliating defeat in a Test series against the Indian team. As a result, their confidence level would be a little lower when they encounter the hosts. Aside from that, there's a lot to play for, since this will be Bangladesh's fourth bilateral Test Championship contest. Bangladesh's standing in the ICC World Test Championship would improve significantly if they whitewash Sri Lanka. Read Sheikh Jamal, Legends of Rupganj in Pole Position to Win DPL 2022