It was cricket at its one-sided worst

Charlie Austin06-Sep-2001It was cricket at its one-sided worst. Sri Lanka arrogantly decided to bowlfirst on a shirtfront of a pitch and swept through a paper-thin Bangladeshline-up in double quick time before their batsmen went on a greedy run spreeat the Sinhalese Sports Club on Thursday.Sponsors, broadcasters and spectators (who had at least been enticed withfree entrance) had expected as much and stayed well away from an Asian TestChampionship match that was always going to attract little interest so soonafter Sri Lanka’s 2-1 Test series win against India.For the sadistically minded cricket fan there were moments to cherish,including yet another five-wicket haul by Muttiah Muralitharan, blistering89 off 56 balls from Sanath Jayasuriya and an elegant 99 not out from MarvanAtapattu but, all-in-all, there would have been greater tension at animpromptu softball game on Galle Face Green.Sri Lanka bowled out Bangladesh for just 90 runs in 36.4 overs, which wasthe tourist’s lowest total in their short five-Test baptism and the lowestever score made against Sri Lanka in their 112-Test career, before therebatsmen piled up 246 for one in just over three hours of batting, to givethem a daunting 156 run lead at the close.Atapattu had set the tone for the innings with three exquisite cover drivesfor four in the first over of the innings, but it was Jayasuriya who stolethe limelight, as he came close to clobbering one of the all time fastestTest centuries.He reached his fifty off just 35 balls with a pull for six, as second fiftyof the innings came up in just 22 balls and took Sri Lanka into tea on 115without loss after just 15 overs.After the interval in continued in the same disdainful vein before he wastrapped leg-before wicket by off spinner Naimur Rahman for 89 off 56 balls,having hit eleven fours and four sixes, two of which were carved over cover.Bangladesh fought-back bravely in the final two hours of the day and couldhave picked up further wickets if they had not spilled two chances at firstslip off Atapattu.Nevertheless, Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara, who retained the number threeposition despite the inclusion of Michael Vandort earlier in the day, added102 runs for the second wicket.Atapattu finished the day on 99, agonisingly short of his eighth Testcentury and Sangakkara was left on 49 not out. The only ones havingsleepless nights, however, will be the middle order batsmen waiting in thedressing, who may be concerned that they are going to miss out on a chanceto boost their Test averages tomorrow.Bangladesh had started the day in disastrous fashion when they lost threeearly wickets to the new ball: Javed Omar (7) played inside a straightdelivery and edged a simple catch to first slip, Habibul Bashir (4) wascleaned bowled by an inswinger in Vaas’s next over and Aminul Islam (6) wascaught behind off Ruchira Perera’s first ball of the day.Opener Mehrab Hossain and middle order batsman Al Shahriar then staged amini fight back, adding 28 runs for the fourth wicket, before the touristslost four wickets for four runs after the introduction of Muralitharan inthe 19th over of the innings.Al Shahriar (16) edged Muralitharan’s cleverly-disguised arm ball, openerMehrab’s (23) patient resistance ended when he was run out and both NaimurRahman and Khaled Mashud were bowled for ducks in the last over beforelunch.After the interval teenage debutante Mohammad Ashraful held up the home teamwith an entertaining 26, which included three boundaries in one over fromChaminda Vaas, who cruelly greeted the new boy with a succession of shortballs.Nevertheless, Bangladesh’s resistance did not last long and 41 minutes afterlunch the bowlers had their feet up in the balcony, facing the pleasantprospect of two days rest before they are next needed.In the morning Sri Lanka announced three changes to the side that defeatedIndia on Sunday: Russel Arnold made way for debutante Michael Vandort after27 consecutive Tests and fast bowlers Ruchira Perera and RavindraPushpakumara replaced Dulip Liyanage and the injured Dilhara Fernando.Bangladesh made two changes to the side that lost by an innings and 264 runsto Pakistan in the first game of the championship at Multan last week:Ashraful, just 16 years old, came in place of left-arm spinner Enamul Haqueand middle order batsman Al Shahriar, 23, replaced the experienced AkramKhan.