'Mendis' innings was massive for us'

Everyone acknowledged the fact that scoring runs was hard on the Mirpur wicket when the first day's play came to an end in the second Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

14 wickets fell on the day on a track that not only offered spinners turn and bounce but also had something for the faster bowlers as Suranga Lakmal terrorised the Tigers' top order in the final session.

Bangladesh limped to 56 for the loss of four wickets at stumps and had to contend with serious bowling from the Lankans. Sri Lanka batting coach Thilan Samaraweera pointed out the fact that scoring quickly helped Sri Lanka because at any moment a good delivery could get a batsman out on this sort of wicket.

"I think on the Chittagong pitch if you bat straight it is hard to get out," said Samaraweera about the flat track that produced a drawn first Test in Chittagong. "But here you have to look to score runs, because any time you can get a good ball."

He lauded Kusal Mendis for his 68-run knock  and said: "The biggest thing is Kusal Mendis's innings [68]. That 60 came very quickly, it was a massive part of the batting because on this pitch it is not easy to score fast, but he batted like it was a different track in the morning."