After a high-scoring draw, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh set for a series decider

Overview

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
29 April - 3 May, 10am local; 04:30am GMT

The first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ended in a high-scoring draw after rain washed out the final session on the final day. It was the first time that a Test match in Sri Lanka ended with no result after 28 straight results.

It was a batting paradise for both sides, with Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scoring for Bangladesh with 163 runs from 378 balls and Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque made 127 off 304 deliveries.

For Sri Lanka, Dimuth Karunaratne****and Dhananjaya de Silva added 322 runs for the fourth wicket, making it the highest stand at Pallekele for any wicket in Tests, breaking the previous record of 258 by Australia's Mike Hussey and Shaun Marsh.

The flat pitch didn't help the bowlers much, with only 17 wickets falling in the entirety of the match. Vishwa Fernando was the top wicket-taker with four scalps.

Remember the last time

After choosing to bat first, Bangladesh lost the wicket of Saif Hassan early but quickly recovered with Tamim Iqbal and Shanto at the crease. The pair shared a solid partnership of 144 runs before Tamim departed 10 runs short of his hundred. Mominul then joined forces with Shanto as the pair went on to add a mammoth 242 runs with both batsmen scoring centuries. Shanto went on to top-score for his side. Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das gave one final push with their 87-run partnership as Bangladesh declared at 541/7.

In reply, Sri Lanka started well with Karunaratne and Thirimanne adding 114 runs with their opening stand. After Thirimanne departed, Sri Lanka lost the wickets of Oshada Fernando and Angelo Mathews. In came Dhananjaya de Silva at No.5 joining Karunaratne in the middle. The duo stitched together a record 322-run stand with Karunaratne scoring 244 and de Silva, 166. Sri Lanka declared leading by 107, with an eye on getting quick wickets and possibly a result.

Bangladesh had a wobble in the second innings losing two early wickets. However, Tamim and Haque helped get their innings back on track adding 73 runs. On day five, the rain started pouring in the evening and ended up washing off the final session completely.

What they said

Dimuth Karunaratne( Sri Lanka captain): "I had a very tough time in the West Indies, so wanted to make the most of these conditions. We thought the wicket would have pace and bounce, but the conditions and heat made the pitch flat. Bangladesh batters also played really well. There was nothing much for the bowlers, it was a batting paradise. There was no threat for the batsmen in the second innings as well, nothing much we could have done on this kind of a wicket. We need something in the pitch for the bowlers (in the next game) because we need 20 wickets to win."

Mominul Haque (Bangladesh captain):"It was a team performance, everyone contributed really well, especially Shanto. Tamim and Mushy also played crucial knocks and the bowlers, especially Taskin and the spinners, tried really hard. When you start the first Test on a good note, it will definitely give us some confidence going into the next game."