Mendis and Karunaratne guide Sri Lanka’ batting.

At the end of the first day Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The latter was leading the former. There had been six double-digit scores. Three of which were fifty-plus ones and three fifty-plus partnerships, two of which were over ninety including another century stand. On Saturday (March 30), the visitors chose to bat at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. They finished the day at 314/4. A 96-run open combination between Nishan Madushka and Dimuth Karunaratne set the stage for Sri Lanka’s successful day at bat. They batted more than 28 overs to nullify whatever little aid Bangladesh believed they could get with the new ball.
Shakib Al Hasan was even called on by Bangladesh in the seventh over. But he could not have any effect.

Not helping matters was the fact that Sri Lanka completed the first session without losing a wicket, while Bangladesh lost a few catches and a run-out opportunity.

When Nishan Madushka was out for 57 in the second over following the interval, Bangladesh finally had some success. But when Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis put up 114 for the second wicket, there was still more work to be done. Mendis and Karunaratne both scored quickly, and they both regularly scored boundaries in addition to a healthy diet of singles and twos to help Bangladesh score.

To the relief of Bangladesh, Karunaratne was removed for 86, having missed a century after dragging a Hasan Mahmud delivery against the stumps a few overs before Tea. This wicket fell against the flow of play.

After reaching 200 before the second session was over, Sri Lanka made steady progress. Thanks to Mendis and Angelo Mathews’ strong batting. Mendis even blasted three fours off Mahmud in an over. Mathews smacked Taijul Islam for a six off the pitch. The batsmen went on to post a half-century stand.

However, in 93, Mendis shoved at a Shakib delivery to allow a catch to fall, ending his performance. Mahmud removed Mathews after a few overs. But Dinesh Chandimal’s undefeated 34 and captain Dhananjaya de Silva’s 15 not out allowed Sri Lanka to conclude the day unscathed.