The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

The visiting Sri Lanka took the upper hand on the second day of the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series when they piled up a satisfactory 293 in the first innings against Bangladesh

at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

In reply, Bangladesh are tottering at 177 for the loss of nine wickets before the bails were drawn for the second day.

Bangladesh lost their wickets in regular intervals as Muttiah Muralitharan, the wizard spinner played the key role to cut short the Bangladesh innings.

Muralitharan bowled a devastating spell and completed as 21-8-48-5.

Imrul Kayes, Zunaed Siddique, Mehrab Hossain (Junior) and Shakib Al Hasan were the notable batsmen for Bangladesh who were able to make modest scores against the tight bowling of Sri Lanka.

Imrul Kayes, the opening batsmen top-scored with 33 facing 53 balls. He sent the ball six times across the ropes in his 79-minute innings before he was caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardene off Chaminda Vaas, the medium pacer.

Earlier, Muralitharan gave his team early breakthrough as he removed opener Tamim Iqbal for 17 runs.

Then, Chaminda Vaas again got success when he removed Mohammad Ashraful, the skipper of Bangladesh.

Ashraful was caught at the cover by TM Dilshan scoring only 12.

Muralitharan cleanly bowled Zunaed Siddique for 29.

Dhamikka Prasad, the other medium pacer then bowled Raqibul Hasan for 11 when the team's total was 117 for the loss of five wickets.

Fourth-down Mehrab Hossain and Number seven tried to resist Lankan bowling attack as they contributed 41 runs in the sixth wicket stand.

It is record-breaking sixth wicket partnership for Bangladesh in their Test campaign so far.

Spinner Rangana Herath dismissed Mehrab for 29 as Mehrab was caught at the first slip by Mahela Jayawardene when the board was showing a reading of 158 for the loss of six wickets.

After that Muralitharan removed Shakib for 26. Shakib Al Hasan, the day's most successful bowler got two wickets on the second day and finished a superb spell as 28.4-4-70-5.

Muralitharan trapped lbw Mashrafe Bin Mortaza for a duck. Shahadat Hossain was his last victim for the second day as Shahadat was stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene for just five.

Earlier, Sri Lanka resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 172 for the loss of six wickets and then the touring side adding more 121 runs on the second day's play.

Thilan Samaraweera salvaged his team making a splendid 90 off 141 balls. His 240-minute innings was studded with 13 strokes through the fence.

Shahadat Hossain and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza scalped two each giving away 55 and 67 runs respectively.