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Mendis century steadies Sri Lanka against Bangladesh

Are Sri Lanka on the up again? (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
7th March, 2017
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Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis made the most of a reprieve and went on to post an unbeaten 166 as Sri Lanka finished on 4-321 at stumps on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh.

It was only the second Test hundred for 22-year-old Mendis and his knock on Tuesday helped Sri Lanka to eye a big first-innings total.

Mendis was involved in a record 196-run stand for the fourth wicket with Asela Gunaratne, playing only his third Test match.

Gunaratne fell to the second new ball when he dragged a Taskin Ahmed delivery onto the stumps. His 85 came off 134 deliveries and included seven fours.

Right-arm fast bowler Subashis Roy struck in his first over coming on as first change when he bowled Upul Tharanga (4). The very next ball, Mendis was given out caught behind but the decision was overturned after television replays showed that the bowler had overstepped. It proved to be a costly mistake.

Mendis hit some elegant drives and was equally efficient with his cut and pull shots. He brought up his half-century with a neat glance for four off Mehedi Hasan.

He reached three figures with a straight drive off part-timer Soumya Sarkar for four.

Sri Lanka lost both openers in the morning session and vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed after lunch. The hosts had relieved Chandimal of wicket-keeping duties to give him more responsibility in batting in the absence of regular captain Angelo Mathews.

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Chandimal was promoted to bat at No.4 but his uncharacteristic knock that produced just five runs off 54 balls ended when he slashed Mustafizur Rahman straight to gully.

Sri Lanka were struggling at that stage at 3-92, but the stand between Mendis and Gunaratne brought them right back to the game.

Mendis batted for over six overs and faced 242 deliveries for his 166. He hit 18 fours and two sixes.

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