Dinusha shines with 2 wickets in first Sri Lanka Test

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    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Launching his test career with a promising start, left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha captured two crucial wickets, as Sri Lanka held Bangladesh to a total of 220-8 on the first day of the second test match at the Singhalese Sports Club.
    Fast bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando complemented Dinusha’s efforts by claiming two wickets each. Despite the rain interrupting play for an hour, resulting in only 71 overs being bowled, poor light conditions ultimately halted the day’s play.
    Six of Bangladesh’s batsmen managed to score more than 20 runs, but Shadman Islam, the opening batsman, topped their effort with a 46-run innings. Amanul Haque, his fellow opener, was given a reprieve on zero runs after being dropped behind the stumps off Asitha Fernando’s delivery. However, his luck ran out just seven balls later when Fernando bowled him out for a duck with an inside edge.
    Following Haque’s departure, Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam partnered up to push Bangladesh’s score to 38 runs by sharing seven boundaries. However, Mominul carelessly gifted his wicket, sending the first ball from Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva to the cover fielder on 21.
    Just after lunch, Vishwa Fernando struck a significant blow to Bangladesh by dismissing their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, caught behind for a mere 8 runs from 31 deliveries. Shanto had previously achieved centuries in both innings of the opening test match in Galle.
    Bangladesh reeled at 76-4 when Shadman fell to de Silva’s slip catch from off-spinner Tharindu Rathnayake’s delivery. His innings included a handsome 93-ball stay featuring seven boundaries.
    Post rain delay, Mushfiqur Rahim was granted an extra chance when dropped on 8 and joined Litton Das to stabilize the innings, adding 67 vital runs for the fifth wicket. Das, too, was given a life on 34 runs but couldn’t capitalize as he fell to a Dinusha delivery, edging to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis at 143-5 just before tea — marking Dinusha’s maiden test wicket and 100th in first-class cricket.
    Dinusha, who had been included in the lineup after the retirement of legendary allrounder Angelo Mathews post-first test, later dismissed Rahim on 35, capitalizing on a catch in the deep. At one point, he had admirable figures of 2-5 from five overs and closed the day’s play with 2-22.
    Mehidy Hasan Miraz marked his return to the Bangladesh team, having missed the first test due to injury, replacing Jaker Ali. He was the seventh batsman dismissed for 31 runs, caught at slip off Vishwa Fernando’s delivery. Vishwa was particularly unlucky not to claim Taijul Islam in the same over, denied only due to a dropped chance by wicketkeeper Mendis.
    Closing in on the end of the day, Asitha Fernando handed another victory to Sri Lanka by dismissing Nayeem Hasan on 25, leaving Taijul Islam and Ebadot Hossain undefeated at 9 and 5 runs, respectively, when stumps were called for the day.