Optimistic Miraz eyeing record chase

Mehedi Hasan Miraz spoke in a surprisingly confident tone at the press match conference after the end of Day 2.

"Anything can happen in the match. Our target is to pick up two wickets quickly tomorrow.

"We are confident of chasing down whatever target they set for us," Miraz suggested when asked about the confidence level of the dressing room.

The highest successful run-chase at the Mirpur pitch is 209 runs when England overhauled Bangladesh's total back in 2010. Tigers have never chased down a 300-run target.

The pitch provided sharp turns for the spinners and Mustafizur Rahman bowled a fantastic spell in the third session of the second day where Tigers created numerous opportunities. The pitch has been subject of much contention and a result is likely to take place tomorrow as batting becomes more and more difficult.

With a 312-run lead Sri Lanka are well in the driving seat despite losing eight wickets for 200 runs in the second innings. If the last two days are anything to go by, chasing down a target in the fourth innings will be a near unassailable task for the Tigers.

"Our batsmen have confidence," Miraz said. He suggested that batsmen need more focus on this sort of wicket.

"You need more focus on this kind of wickets compared to a normal wicket. If your foucs wavers in this wicket, there is no chance to survive. In a normal wicket you might survive even after making a mistake. If our batsmen can focus well than we can expect something good," Miraz concluded.