A crucial toss kicked off proceedings at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo for the second Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with the series finely poised after a hard-fought draw in Galle.
Under initially overcast skies that soon gave way to bright sunshine, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first. Citing the dry, brown surface and the importance of runs on the board in the first innings, Shanto backed his side to capitalise early despite the expected help for seamers in the opening hour.
“We will bat first. It looks like a good wicket and first innings will be important, putting up runs on the board. Hasan Mahmud has a niggle and so Ebadot comes in,” Shanto said at the toss. “We did great in Galle, but it is a new match and we have to do well – the first hour will be important.”
Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva admitted he too would have preferred to bat first, acknowledging the significance of exploiting early movement. “I also wanted to bat first. But we have to pick early wickets,” he said. “Sonal makes his debut, Kamindu will bat at 4. We lost Angelo, but we have good youngsters who have been doing well in the last couple of years – they deserve their chance.”
Farveez Maharoof, on pitch duty, described conditions as “smuggy and hot”, a marked contrast from Galle. He noted the lack of grass on the surface, predicting more bounce and assistance for seamers in the first hour, particularly beneficial to the hosts if they strike early.
Both sides have made a couple of changes. For Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz returns to the XI after missing the first Test, while Ebadot Hossain replaces the injured Hasan Mahmud. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, hand a debut to Sonal Dinusha and bring in Vishwa Fernando for the injured Milan Ratnayke. Kamindu Mendis is also promoted to bat at number four.
With both teams eager to stamp their authority, and conditions likely to play a key role early on, the SSC Test promises to be a gripping contest.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Nahid Rana
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Tharindu Ratnayake, Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando
Toss: Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first.