Tigers make further inroads

At the end of Day 3 today, Sri Lanka scored 229 for three but the hosts still trail by 312 runs in their first Test against Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.

Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne remains unbeaten on 85 while Dhananjaya de Silva is on 26. 

Kerfuffle over DRS!

Just a few overs before stumps, Bangladesh saw an LBW review ruled out before it went to checking for Ultra Edge. The incident happened in the final delivery off the 71st over, bowled by Taijul Islam. Left-handed Karunaratne took a step forward and blocked a delivery that seemingly pitched around the off-stump. The ball clearly hit the bat but Bangladesh players appealed for a leg-before and eventually opted for review after the umpire had ruled out the initial appeal. The third umpire never even got to checking for Ultra Edge as it initially showed during the review that the ball had clearly hit the middle of the bat. The on-field decision stayed. However, a few moments later, it was revealed that had the third umpire opted for the Ultra Edge, a clear spike could have been seen as the ball grazed the front boot of Karunaratne before the ball went to hit the middle of the bat. But, luckily for everyone, the impact of the ball was outside the line of off-stump and the decision might well have been the same had Ultra Edge been in action. 

Taijul Islam bagged his first wicket of the game with a regulation delivery to Angelo Matthews who was looking good before his dismissal.

Matthews read the line of the delivery wrong and tried rocking back to the back foot to cut away the delivery. Ball zipped through and castled him. Bangladesh make another breakthrough as Sri Lanka are 190 for three after 63 overs. Karunaratne batting on 72.

Taskin removes Oshada with SL two down

Another break has seen the Tigers make another breakthrough as Taskin Ahmed got the scalp of Oshada Fernando in the over following the drinks break.

Taskin had threatened during his earlier spell but without getting anything out of it. A below-par delivery at the batsman's pad however got him his first Test wicket since March 2017. Fernando glanced the delivery delicately off his pads but ended up as a catch to wicketkeeper Liton Das, who dived to his left to grab on to the catch.

Before that, the Sri Lanka batsmen, especially captain Dimuth Karunaratne was not giving the Tigers a sniff of making further inroads as they continued to pile on the runs.

Karunaratne picked up his half century after tea, batting on 65. Oshada Fernando had looked to play his shots at the beginning but was gradually settling before his dismissal after drinks break.

Sri Lanka are 161 for two after 54 overs. 

Miraz breaks Lankan opening stand before tea

Mehedi Miraz broke the partnership between the Sri Lanka openers at the stroke of tea as the second session ended after Lahiru Thirimanne's dismissal.

Both Lankan openers were looking solid after lunch as they strung together a 114-run partnership. Taijul Islam and Bangladesh were also ruing a missed review after they did not review a close leg-before shout just a few overs ago. With Sri Lanka looking to go to tea without any loss of wicket, the batsmen were content to pad off a few deliveries.

Mehedi struck with the last ball of his over with an arm ball that Thirimanne, batting on 58, did not get in line of. He played at the delivery, missing it as it wrapped his pads. The umpire gave the out signal but Thirimanne chose to review, but to no avail as third-umpire agreed with on-field umpire's decision. Captain Karunaratne was batting on 43 at the other end with tea called on day three of what was another extended session to make up for time lost yesterday to bad light.

Sri Lanka openers survive tricky period before lunch

Sri Lanka openers managed to survive the tricky period before lunch on day three, despite a pace barrage from the Tigers' quicks on day three of the first Test at Kandy.

Taskin Ahmed and Ebadat Hossain bowled fast at good line, either drawing the batsmen forward or pushing them back. Lahiru Thirimanne survived a scare on the last over before lunch when Taskin's delivery shaped in and the left-hander offered no shot, leading to umpire Kumara Dharmasena raising his finger. Thirimanne however reviewed and ball tracking showed that impact was in line, but the ball did not shape in enough. Sri Lanka went into lunch 11 for no loss after eight overs but Tigers will be geared up by what they have seen so far.

Tigers declare at 541 for seven

Bangladesh have declared at 541 for seven after batting out the 173rd over. Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 68 as the Tigers added 67 runs in the morning session to their overnight score of 474.

Mushfiqur laced his knock with six fours. Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam did not trouble the scorers a lot after Liton's deparature.

Liton departs after fifty as Tigers cross 500

Liton Das, who completed a half century this morning in the first session of day three against Sri Lanka today, was the first wicket to fall in the first session as the Tigers crossed 500-run mark.

Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 55 at the other end as Mehedi Miraz came into bat after Liton's departure. Play started early this morning to make up for time lost to bad light yesterday. Liton and Mushfiqur were diligent against the swing that likes of Suranga Lakmal extracted in the early morning.

Liton played one slightly away from his body and a thick outside edge went straight to gully as Vishwa Fernando got his third wicket of the innings. Liton departed after a 67-ball 50, laced with five fours and a six. He and Mushfiqur added 85 for the fifth wicket.