In the ongoing Kandy Test against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh have lost 15 wickets so far, and of them, 13 went to the Lankan spinners. The Lankan spinners put Bangladesh on the backfoot. Bangladesh batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto said they should play spin better if they really want to shine in Tests. In both innings of the Kandy Test, Shanto fell prey to the spinners. In the first innings, he was haunted by Ramesh Mendis, and in the second, he got dismissed by Praveen Jayawickrama. “It was tough to play against spin in this sort of tracks,” Shanto said in a virtual press conference after the day’s play. “There was much more spin than usual, but if we want to play Tests, we should play spin better.” Also read: Tigers have mountain to climb to save Kandy Test The first Test of the series ended in a draw when the bowlers got nothing from the wicket. A total of 17 wickets fell in the first game at the same venue. So it was expected that the hosts will provide a better wicket in the second match. “It’s normal that the bowlers will get substantial help from the wicket on the fourth day of a Test match. Most of us have had a good start to their innings but we failed to carry on. Had we lost three wickets, we would have a good chance in this game,” Shanto added. At the end of day four, Bangladesh need to score 260 in 98 overs to win this game or bat the entire day to save it with only five wickets in hand. Shanto believes that if Bangladesh can bat for two sessions without losing a wicket, they have something to get from this Test. Also read: Sri Lanka set 437 for Bangladesh to win in Kandy “We still have two batsmen in the wicket. If we can bat well in the first two sessions, we have something to think about this game,” he further added. In the first innings of the first Test, Shanto hit his maiden ton Test. But in the next two innings, he suffered a duck each before coming up with 26 in the third. His inconsistency cost Bangladesh a lot. “The important thing for me is not to be too happy because of success or not to be too broken because of failure. I have done badly in the last two innings after a good one. I failed to play a longer innings despite having a good start today (Sunday). I am not worried about these things much. I rather am looking forward to doing well when I get the next chance,” Shanto added.

Bangladesh lost five wickets for 177 runs at the end of the fourth day in Kandy Sunday while chasing 437 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Ramesh Mendis and 22-year-old Praveen Jayawickrama, bagged three and two wickets to keep Bangladesh at bay. The Tigers will have to score 260 runs on the fifth day of the match to win the game or bat for the entire day to save it at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. All the Bangladeshi batters, who have already been dismissed, made a good start to their innings but failed to carry on against the quality spin of the hosts. Sri Lanka declared their second innings on 194 for nine securing a lead of 436 runs. Dimuth Karunarate scored 66 for the hosts as Taijul Islam took five wickets for the Tigers. Also read: Sri Lanka set 437 for Bangladesh to win in Kandy Bangladesh needed to make a good start to their second innings. But Tamim Iqbal managed to post 24 runs only. Saif Hassan, who has failed to shine in this series so far, scored 34. Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim also made a good start, scoring 26, 32, and 40 each, but none of them could fight back the Lankan spinners. At the end of the day, Bangladesh were batting at 177 for five with Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz unbeaten on 14 and 4. Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a mammoth total of 493 runs for seven in their first innings, riding on Dimuth Karunarate (118), Lahiru Thirimanne (140), and Oshada Fernando (81). Niroshan Dickwella, the wicketkeeper-batsman, remained not-out for 77. Read Also: Sri Lanka stretch lead over 400 as Bangladesh in more trouble Taskin Ahmed was the best bowler for Bangladesh taking four wickets for 127 runs, his best bowling figure in Tests. In reply to Sri Lanka's first innings, Bangladesh were bundled out for only 251 runs despite a 90 from Tamim Iqbal. Most of the batters had a good start but they failed to come up with the big innings. Mominul Haque perished on 49 and Mushfiqur Rahim scored 40, although the onus was on them to propel the Tigers to a safe position in this game. Praveen, who got the chance to play this game due to injuries or off-form other spinners, bagged six wickets conceding 92 runs, the best bowling figure for a Sri Lankan debutant in Tests.

With only one session to play in the Kandy Test against Sri Lanka, Tamim Iqbal hit his second fifty of the match and lead of Sri Lanka came down to seven runs. Bangladesh were batting at 100 for two in 33 overs with Tamim and Mominul were unbeaten for 74 and 23 respectively. The visitors now have to bat at least 35 overs to end this Test in a draw.  The Tigers lost two early wickets as Saif Hassan and Najmul Hossain failed to impress with the bat in the second innings. Saif had suffered a duck in the first innings, and in the second, he returned with one while Najmul had hit a ton in the first innings, but failed in the next as he suffered a duck. Both of the first two wickets were taken by Suranga Lakmal. Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 648 for eight in 179 overs securing a 107-run first-innings lead. Bangladesh were sent to bat after the lunch break of the final day.  The hosts added 136 runs in the first session of the fifth day. Two overnight batsmen, Dimuth Karunarante (244) and Dhananjaya de Silva (166), were removed by Taskin Ahmed while Taijul Islam bagged the wicket of Wanindu Hasaranga and Ebadot Hossain scalped Pathum Nissanka. For Bangladesh, Taskin bagged three wickets conceding 112 runs while Taijul took and Eabdot and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scalped one wicket each. Bangladesh removed five Sri Lankan batsman in the first session of the final day with one run out. Earlier, Bangladesh declared the first innings at 541 for seven wickets in 173 overs before the lunch break of day three. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque dominate in the first two days as they have struck a century each. It was the first Test for Najmul, and Mominul recorded his maiden century in away Tests. Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das have struck a fifty each for the visitors. It was the sixth-highest Test innings for the Tigers, and third highest in the overseas Tests. For Sri Lanka, Vishwa Fernando was the most successful bowler who bagged four wickets in the batting paradise conceding 96 runs in 35 overs while Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya de Silva took one wicket each.

Bangladeshi bowlers have failed to grab any wicket on day four of the Kandy Test against Sri Lanka despite bowling for two full sessions. At the tea break of day four, the hosts were batting at 442 for three. After Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva has also struck a century. The pair have remained unbeaten on 184 and 134, adding 252 runs in the fourth wicket stand. Also read: Sri Lanka hold firm as Karunaratne hits century For Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed bagged one wicket each. At the lunch break, Sri Lanka were trailing by 210 runs, but they have now narrowed it down to 99 runs. Earlier, Bangladesh declared their first innings at 541 for seven wickets in 173 overs before the lunch break of day three. It was the sixth-highest Test innings for the Tigers and third-highest in the overseas Tests. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque dominated the first two days, hitting a century each. It was the first Test 100 for Najmul, and Mominul recorded his maiden century in away Tests. Also read: Taijul bemoans docile track Also, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das struck a 50 each for the visitors. For Sri Lanka, Vishwa Fernando was the most successful bowler who bagged four wickets for 96 runs in 35 overs while Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya de Silva claimed one wicket each.

Bangladesh declared the first innings of the Kandy Test against Sri Lanka scoring 541 for seven wickets in 173 overs before the lunch break of day three on Friday. Both overnight batsmen, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das, scored a fifty each. While Liton fell prey to Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler, Vishwa Fernando, for 50, Mushfiqur remained unbeaten for 68.  Also read:Bangladesh-Sri Lanka two-match Test Series begins ... After Liton’s dismissal, Bangladesh lost Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam in quick succession. Both of them failed to impress with the bat. Taskin Ahmed came to bat at number nine and remained not-out for six.  Earlier, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque hit a century each. It was the first Test for Najmul. Opener Tamim Iqbal scored 90 as well, setting the tone for Bangladesh’s innings. This is now the sixth-highest Test innings score for the Tigers, and the third-highest in the overseas Tests. Also read:Tigers reach Kandy for Sri Lanka Tests For Sri Lanka, Vishwa Fernando was the most successful bowler who bagged four wickets conceding 96 runs in 35 overs, while Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya de Silva took one wicket each.