Moments
THE SLIPPERY START
Shamsur Rahman's debut, opening the innings with Tamim Iqbal, was not the most comfortable one. After getting his first runs with a half-hearted pull, Shamsur hit two streaky boundaries through the slip cordon. The nerves were clearly visible in the fourth over when he lost his grip and dropped his bat while attempting a drive. His expansive technique eventually led to him getting caught at gully.
THE SHORT STUFF
That the Sri Lankan bowlers were going to fire in the bouncers from the start reflected in their field settings. They placed a short leg a little more than a metre behind the batsman right from the start hoping, for an edge. While the fielder did not go on to catch any, the Bangladesh batsmen looked hapless against the shorter delivery with Tamim and Mominul Haque gifting their wickets while attempting unnecessary pull shots.
OVER-GLOSSY HOARDINGS?
Halfway through Shakib Al Hasan's innings, the batsman asked the staff to remove a portion of the colourful, multi-branded boards on the boundary rope at the press box end. The glittery reflection had apparently caught the player's eye. The portion of the boundary rope remained empty throughout the day. A small victory against the growing calls for cricket's over-commercialisation by the Big Three, perhaps?
ROBIUL THE STRIKE SHEPHERD
With Bangladesh's batting hopes already having bitten the dust, it was up to new ball bowlers Robiul Islam and Al Amin Hossain to try and score as much as possible for the last wicket. With the score on 232 for nine, Robiul hit his 13th ball to the deep but declined the run, deeming Al Amin, who got off the mark with a six, not good enough to tackle the Lankans. Robiul's visions of batting competence were however obliterated two balls later, when he slashed a ball straight to gully.
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