Follow UsThe Bangladesh team struggled to pick wickets even on days three and four of the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka. In the Galle Test, playing without their lead off-spinner Mehdiy Hasan Miraz, they could only pick up the tail after bowling for 131.2 overs and gained only a slight lead of 10 runs, having posted 495 in their first innings.
But things might turn out to be different with Miraz being available for the second Test in Colombo, as confirmed by team manager Nafeez Iqbal, after the all-rounder turned up for a training session on Day 3 of the first Test.
"He (Mehidy) is much better and came to the ground today," Iqbal was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on June 19 (Thursday).
The fact that Bangladesh ended Day 4 with a lead of 187 runs and seven wickets in hand, and they could have pushed for a win by playing the first session on Day 5 aggressively and then utilising the spin trio of Mehidy, Tailjul Islam and Nayeem Hassan to put pressure on Sri Lankan batting unit on a deteriorating pitch. But now, Bangladesh are looking to play for a draw.
However, in the second Test, their most experienced all-rounder will be back and looking to add more to his 2068 runs with the bat and 205 wickets with the ball in what will be his 54th appearance in red-ball cricket for the Tigers.