Sangakkara leads Sri Lankan fight

Cricket365
March 17, 2013

After a good morning session on day two of the second Test in Colombo, Bangladesh's day went downhill as centuries from Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal led the hosts to 294 for six at stumps, a lead of 54.

Sangakkara was unbeaten on 127 at the close, his third century in as many innings, while Chandimal had been dismissed in the evening session for 102, after the duo had put on 195 together for the fifth wicket.

Sangakkara was at the crease overnight, alongside Dimuth Karunaratne, but the pair couldn't stay together for long. Abul Hasan got the breakthrough, inducing the edge for Mushfiqur Rahim to catch Karunaratne behind the stumps for 17.

The next to fall was Lahiru Thirimanne, who failed to get off the mark in 12 deliveries before being dismissed. Rahim again took the catch, this time off Robiul Islam, who had removed Tillakaratne Dilshan the day before.

The final wicket of the morning session was that of skipper Angelo Mathews, who made 16 before spinner Sohag Gazi struck, caught by Mahmudullah. This left Sangakkara batting alongside Chandimal, who had three at lunch, where the score was 81 for four.

The afternoon session was far more like the Sri Lankan batsman would have been used to, as Sangakkara and Chandimal resisted and recorded half centuries. The elder wicketkeeper was on 75 at tea, while Chandimal was on 53.

The Tigers struggled in the evening to break the stand, with both batsmen recording their tons within a few deliveries of each other. Rubel Hossain finally got the breakthrough in the 83rd over, bowling Chandimal with the score on 264.

Kithuruwan Vithanage was the other wicket to fall as the day drew to a close, also to Hossain, though this time the batsman was caught by Mominul Haque for 12. Nuwan Kulasekara was in the middle with Sanga at stumps.