Mendis century puts Sri Lanka ahead
Kusal Mendis made the most of a first-ball reprieve and went on to score an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka posted a commanding 321 for 4 on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday (March 7).
Mendis remained unbeaten on 166 at stumps after sharing a 196-run stand with Asela Gunaratne (85) for the fourth wicket at the Galle International Stadium on the opening day of the two-Test series.
Subashis Roy, the Bangladesh fast bowler, thought he had Mendis out for a golden duck when Liton Das, the wicketkeeper, dived to his right to take a catch off an inside edge. But a TV replay showed that Roy had overstepped, which allowed Mendis to carry on and eventually get to his second Test century.
Mendis reached three figures with a straight four off Soumya Sarkar in an innings that has so far featured 18 fours and two sixes across 242 balls.
"I may have played a false stroke the first ball I faced," Mendis said after stumps. "After I played that shot I got a second opportunity to do justice to my team."
Mendis and Gunaratne's massive partnership put the home side firmly in control of the match by close of play after it was 92 for 3 at one stage.
Gunaratne, who replaced the injured Angelo Mathews in the team, hit seven fours in his second half-century in three Tests before he was bowled by Taskin Ahmed.
The pair came together after Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladeshi fast bowler on his return from injury and playing his first Test since August 2015, removed Dinesh Chandimal.
Bangladesh started the day in positive fashion after Rangana Herath, the stand-in Sri Lanka skipper, won the toss and asked the team to bowl first.
The visiting side struck in the sixth over when Roy beat Upul Tharanga, the opener, with a perfect inswinger to uproot his middle stump before the no-ball denied him Mendis's wicket off the next ball.
Mendis and Karunaratne put on 45 for the second wicket before Mehedi Hasan, the 19-year-old spinner, struck, bowling Karunaratne through the gate.
Mehedi later commended Mendis for his innings. “Their batsmen played well, especially Kusal Mendis. If he had gotten out things would have been different.”
Bangladesh went with a three-man pace attack for this match, while Liton took over the gloves with Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain, playing as a pure batsman. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, went in with three spinners.
The second Test, which will be Bangladesh's 100th, will take place in Colombo from March 15.
