Tigers hit new low

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It seems that only rain can save Bangladesh from further embarrassment in the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka after the local bowlers made mockery of the Tigers on the first day of the second Test at the P Sara Stadium here on Tuesday.

Mohammad Ashraful’s men slumped to their lowest ever Test total after being bundled out for 62 in just 25.2 overs, which gave a clear indication that they had hardly learned anything from their first Test mistakes where they had been dismissed for 89 in the first innings.

Bangladesh’s previous lowest total of 86 was also against Sri Lanka here in 2005 at the Premadasa Stadium and this time, paceman Lasith Malinga and spin wizard Muttiah Muralidaran equally shared eight wickets to add more salt on the visitors’ wounds.

There is forecast of more rain today following yesterday’s heavy showers in the afternoon that stopped the first day’s play with sixteen overs remaining. The damage had, however, been done much earlier.

And the late interruption could not stop the home side from taking absolute control as they finished on 154-1 with Malinda Warnapura, who brilliantly recovered from his first-ball duck on debut at the SSC last week, batting on 79. Kumar Sangakkara accompanied him with 51.

Pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza had the lone success by removing opener Michael Vandort, who made 14 off 52 deliveries during a 41-run opening wicket.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene won the toss for the second successive time in the series under brilliant sunshine and opted to use the early hour’s advantage. His seamers, especially Malinga and Dilhara Fernando who took two wickets, did not frustrate by folding the rival innings in just over two hours.

The Bangladesh first innings could have had the look of a phone number but Rajin Saleh did not want to follow his teammates as he was the only batsman to reach the double figure with a 62-ball 21 in 107 minutes.

With his staggering pace, Lasith found the vulnerable Bangladesh top order wanting to claim four wickets for 25 in his 9-over spell to set the stage for Muralidaran, who captured four for 14 from 5.2 overs.

Left-handed opener Shahriar Nafees seemed to be a bit unfortunate to be adjudged leg before in the second over of the day as Malinga’s inswinger looked like going down the leg but rest of the batsmen simply committed the cardinal sin.

It has been told time and again that captain Ashraful and his predecessor Habibul Bashar, being the most senior members, have to take responsibility against a world-class attack but both simply failed to inspire a very young team.

It was hard to believe that Bangladesh went to lunch at 62 for nine despite the think-tank’s focus only on batting.

May be even having 11 specialist batsmen would have not helped in front of a scanty spectators, most of whom were prisoners, who came from the nearest jail and celebrated every wicket fall with huge applause.

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