Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne scored an unbeaten half-century as Sri Lanka gave Bangladesh a befitting reply in the first Test in Kandy on Friday.
Karunaratne remained unbeaten on 85, helping the hosts reach 229-3 at stumps on the third day, trailing Bangladesh by now 312 runs.
Resuming on 474-4, Bangladesh earlier declared their innings for 541-7 thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim’s unbeaten 68 and Liton Das’s 50.
The Tigers could not penetrate enough with the ball to put Sri Lanka under pressure as Karunaratne shared 114 runs with Lahiru Thirimanne in the opening stand.
Mehidy Hasan broke the stand, trapping Thirimanne in front for 58 runs, but Oshada Fernando (20) and Angelo Mathews (25) played to cameos to ensure the hosts did not lose their way.
Taskin Ahmed, who was most impressive among Bangladesh’s pace trio was rewarded with the wicket of Oshada before Taijul Islam bowled Mathews.
Dhananjaya de Silva, was accompanying Karunaratne with 29, when stumps were drawn for the third day.
“On this pitch which doesn’t have much help for the bowlers, we have to be very disciplined to get near a winning position. We have to cut down the runs, and get wickets early tomorrow. We will definitely play to win but we also don’t want to lose control at any stage,” Taijul said after third day’s play.
“The rough areas aren’t producing a lot of sharp turn in any direction. It is generally a slow wicket. We just have to be disciplined, and prey on the batsmen’s weakness,” he said.
Taijul was full of praise for Taskin, who made his comeback to Test cricket after four years.
“Taskin bowled very well with good lines and lengths, and was quite attacking. We are hoping that he can continue in this vein, which will really help the team,” he said.
Taskin could have dismissed Thirimanne early in the innings if was not television umpire, who overturned a leg-before decision against the batsman off his bowling.
Earlier, Vishwa Fernando finished with 4-96 as Sri Lankan bowlers took the honour in the first session of the day.
Mushfiq, unbeaten on 43 overnight, hit Dhananjaya de Silva for single to bring his 23rd Test fifty before another single in the same over brought Bangladesh’s 500 runs.
Liton completed his fifty off 66 balls with a single off Suranga Lakmal before he edged Vishwa to Oshada Fernando at gully to get dismissed in the next over.
Mehidy Hasan fell caught behind off Lakmal for three soon and Vishwa dismissed Taijul to expedite Bangladesh’s declaration.
