Bangladesh all-rounder Sakib al Hasan (L) celebrates the wicket of Sri Lankan batsman Asela Gunaratne with team-mates on the fourth day of their second Test at the P Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Saturday. — AFP photo
Bangladesh batsman Mosaddek Hossain on Saturday said that they will try to get Sri Lanka all-out before conceding a lead of over 160 runs and he was confident that would be an easy chase on the final day.
Sri Lanka ended the penultimate day of their second Test of the two-match series at P Sara
Oval, Colombo on Saturday on 268-8 in their second innings to take a lead of 139 runs.
Resuming on 54-0, Sri Lanka wiped off their first innings trail of 75 but Tigers did well to take eight wickets and will aim today to pick up the remaining two wickets and chase down the target to clinch the match.
‘We will try to close them within 160 if we can do that it won’t be tough for us to win the match,’ said debutant Mosaddek after the end of day’s play.
Overnight batsmen Upul Tharanga and Dimuth Karunaratne made the 57-run opening stand before the latter added 86 with Kusal Mendis that looked to fade the visitors’ advantage.
But once Mustafizur Rahman got rid of Mendis, the paceman along with Sakib al Hasan got few quick wickets to reduce the hosts to 190-6 and regained the control of the game.
Mosaddek hailed the effort and thought that it brought them back in the game.
‘Mustafiz is one of the best bowlers in the world now and Shakib Bhai is always the best. They know what their responsibilities are. They know what to do in different circumstances. For them we are back in the match,’ said Mosaddek.
‘Mustafiz was consistently bowling in the right spot and we were waiting to get a breakthrough. Once we got it we were back in the match strongly.’
Mosaddek himself bowled three overs including the last one of the day and he thought though the pitch was not easy but it won’t be tough on the final day for them to chase whatever runs they need to clinch a win in their historic 100th Test.
‘Neither the wicket has become very bad nor it is in very good condition,’ said Mosaddek.
In the last ball of the day, Bangladesh made a huge shout for a bat-pad catch of Suranga Lakmal off Mosaddek and though umpire Aleem Dar initially nodded his head but he gave that not out.
Bangladesh made a review just to see that the umpire’s decision was upheld but Mosaddek said umpire’s initial action made them believe that the ball might hit the bat or gloves before reaching the short-leg fielder.
Mosaddek scored 75 in the first innings and made a crucial 131-run seventh wicket stand with Sakib but for the 21-year old his personal achievement was not the big thing and he said would be happy only if that helped his side win the match.
