Related Links : Bangladesh in Sri Lanka 2007 : Scorecard
The Tigers have put up a fight in their second innings to delay the inevitable innings defeat perhaps to the third day. An honest effort from the Bangladeshi batsmen was complemented by the clouds which saw an early day off at the SSC. Bangladesh have five more wickets in hand to continue their resistance.
The morning session saw a solid opening stand between Javed Omar Belim and Shahriar Nafees. Once again it was the left hander to fall first and once again unlucky to be out, not to a wicket taking delivery. The opening stand came to an end when Shahriar Nafees chipped down the track only to be caught and bowled by Muralitharan which was off a clean strike. Nafees lasted 50 balls scoring 38 with 7 fours. Interestingly that was the only success in the morning session for the Lankans.
In the afternoon session, the Tigers faltered, they almost forgot that their job was not even half done. First Javed Omar was done in by the reverse swing and pace from Lasith Malinga. Omar did make a century in the number of balls he had faced, for the record, he scored 62 with ten fours. Former Captain Habibul Bashar probably played his longest innings in the recent past perhaps, batting for as many as 25 balls before he nicked one behind off Chaminda Vaas. After that the Skipper Ashraful entered to put on a disciplined batting show along with the always patient Rajin Saleh.
Sri Lanka by close got the wickets of Rajin Saleh and Mohammad Ashraful to make their task for the third day a little easier. Saleh had done well in playing out 177 balls besides scoring 51 while Ashraful batted for 131 balls scoring 37. Muttiah Muralitharan took five wickets in just 45 balls in the first innings but today he got just two wickets having bowled 34 overs. At stumps, Bangladesh have left handed middle order bat Saqibul and wicket keeper Khaled Mashud holding the guard. The Tigers would be hoping they keep the Sri Lankans frustrated for a longer time and also would be praying for some heroics from the all rounders Mortaza and Rafique.