Nayeem leads Bangladesh fightback against Sri Lanka

Bangladesh clawed back to the first Test strongly after off spinner Nayeem Hasan set the platform, registering his career-best bowling on day two of the Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday.

Nayeem ended up with 6-105 as Bangladesh bundled Sri Lanka out for 397 in their first innings and then the openers batted aggressively to end the day on 76 for no loss in just 19 overs.

Tamim Iqbal was batting on 39 with youngster Mahmudul Hasan Joy on 31 and both of them looked comfortable in the crease as they dealt with the Sri Lankan pacers and spinners with ease, BSS reports.

Bangladesh are still trailing by 321 runs but the way the openers batted, it generated enough confidence.

But the credit should go to Nayeem. The local boy’s six-wicket haul, which was his third five or more wicket haul, included Angelo Mathews who got out as the last batter for 199. This was heartbreaking for Mathews who carried his side astutely amid the Bangladeshi bowlers disciplined bowling on day two.

Shakib Al Hasan claimed 3-60 to complement the effort of Nayeem, who was playing his first Test since February last year.

Apart from Mathews, who missed out his second double century, Dinesh Chandimal scored 66 and Kusal Mendis made 54.

Resuming the day on 258-4, Mathews and another overnight unbeaten batter Dinesh Chandimal made a smooth progress despite some good bowling of Bangladesh bowlers.

The hosts’ bowlers in fact were happy to stem the run flow as they were not getting assistance from the wicket.

Mathews, however, took the charge to go after the bowlers in his attempt to pace the scoreboard.

Chandimal, who appeared to be shaky initially, found his rhythm, hitting a six off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.