Hosts in trouble after Lahiru ton

Sri Lanka A are in the driving seat after Lahiru Thirimanne's brilliant hundred enabled them to declare their first innings on a huge 449 for eight, following which Bangladesh A were 44 for two at stumps on the second day of the first four-day game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. The hosts lost both openers and trail by 405 runs.

Resuming the second day on 170 for four both overnight batsman Thirimanne and Charith Asalanka kept things steady and added 156 runs for the fifth wicket.

Asalanka however was run out just 10 runs shy of his hundred, but Thirimanne went on to register his 17th first-class ton.

The left-hander then added 119 runs for the sixth wicket with Shammu Ashan (70 off 97 balls) before the latter became the second victim of left-arm seamer Abu Hider.

But Thirimanne remained compact at the other end until being dismissed for a mammoth 168 off 339 balls, which included 14 fours and two sixes, by left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam as the visitors eventually declared the innings in the final session.

Right arm pacer Khaled Ahmed who bagged three wickets in the first day picked up one more to finish with the figures of four for 92 from 27 overs.

In reply, Soumya Sarkar seemed to be in a hurry, striking four boundaries in no time but the left-hander was soon bowled by Nisala Tharaka for 21 off 17 balls.

Shadman Islam (1) also departed cheaply. The experienced Tushar Imran and skipper Mosaddek Hossain (8 not out) will resume the third day with a daunting task.

SCORES IN BRIEF

SRI LANKA A 449 for 8 declared ( Thirimanne 168, Asalanka 90, Khaled 4/92)

BANGLADESH A 44 for 2 ( Soumya 21, Tushar 12 not out, Asalanka 1-10)