1st Test: Bangladesh take the upper hand in Chattogram after Tamim Iqbal’s 133

Both Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim are within touching distance of scoring 5000 runs in the purest format of the game.

Bangladesh would feel they did a reasonable job on Day three of the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. After Angelo Mathews scored a jaw-dropping 199, the Tigers openers came out with a lot of intent. Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Tamim Iqbal made sure the hosts put up 76 on the board and didn’t lose any wickets at the close of play on day two.

The duo went on to stitch together a 162-run opening stand and kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay. Asitha Fernando gave the visitors their maiden breakthrough after getting rid of Joy, who scored 58 with nine fours. Thereafter, the Islanders stormed back as Kasun Rajitha, who played his first Test after December 2020, got rid of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque Showrabh in quick succession.

Rajitha was picked as a substitute for Vishwa Fernando, who was ruled out of the game due to concussion. Tamim, in the meantime, went on to race to his century off 162 balls. But after scoring 133 runs, he had to retire hurt after he suffered from cramps. Tamim went off only 19 runs short of becoming the first Bangladesh batter with 5000 runs in Test cricket.

From there on, Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim made sure that the Tigers didn’t suffer any hiccups. Both have put on an unbeaten stand of 98 runs and reduced Bangladesh’s trial to 79 runs. Even as Mushfiqur stayed unbeaten on 53, Liton was there at the crease on 54.

Mushfiqur also toppled Tamim as the leading run-scorer for the Tigers in Test cricket. Barring Rajitha, who picked up two wickets after coming in as a concussion substitute, none of the other Sri Lankan bowlers could make a significant impact.