Abul and a fine-leg drop
Plays of the Day from the second day of the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
Mohammad Isam
09-Mar-2013
Abul Hasan hung on to a caught-and-bowled chance to get Angelo Mathews but spilled one off Dinesh Chandimal • Associated Press
Drop of the day
There were four dropped catches to pick from but the one missed by Abul Hasan ultimately remained the costliest. Dinesh Chandimal was on 8 when the pace bowler ran ten metres from fine leg and suddenly realised he had to dive - but it was too late. The ball grazed his fingertips and hit the turf, giving Chandimal a second chance. He survived two more drops on his way to an unbeaten 116, but Abul's was the least difficult of the chances.
There were four dropped catches to pick from but the one missed by Abul Hasan ultimately remained the costliest. Dinesh Chandimal was on 8 when the pace bowler ran ten metres from fine leg and suddenly realised he had to dive - but it was too late. The ball grazed his fingertips and hit the turf, giving Chandimal a second chance. He survived two more drops on his way to an unbeaten 116, but Abul's was the least difficult of the chances.
Coincidence of the day
After he was dropped on 5, 8 and 12 and survived a sharp leg-before chance when on 31, the Bangladesh fielders next had a chance off Chandimal's bat when he had reached 111. But Mahmudullah dropped a sitter at long-off, off Sohag Gazi ... who also had Kumar Sangakkara loft one on 111 on the first day, but there too the batsman survived. That time, Mohammad Ashraful dropped Sangakkara on the second attempt at mid-on.
After he was dropped on 5, 8 and 12 and survived a sharp leg-before chance when on 31, the Bangladesh fielders next had a chance off Chandimal's bat when he had reached 111. But Mahmudullah dropped a sitter at long-off, off Sohag Gazi ... who also had Kumar Sangakkara loft one on 111 on the first day, but there too the batsman survived. That time, Mohammad Ashraful dropped Sangakkara on the second attempt at mid-on.
Shot of the day
Before the first session sprang into life with the wicket and the gifts for Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne resumed his innings with a straight drive that remained in the memory throughout the day. With some foot movement, the left-hander drove the ball straight past the bowler and the umpire but the mid-off and mid-on fielders hardly moved. It was a window into the sort of batsman Thirimanne is, a quiet accumulator.
Before the first session sprang into life with the wicket and the gifts for Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne resumed his innings with a straight drive that remained in the memory throughout the day. With some foot movement, the left-hander drove the ball straight past the bowler and the umpire but the mid-off and mid-on fielders hardly moved. It was a window into the sort of batsman Thirimanne is, a quiet accumulator.
Non-reviews of the day
Chandimal had seen off Gazi's first spell, but the replacement at the Fort End almost brought Bangladesh a wicket. Left-arm spinner Elias Sunny struck Chandimal in front, but the loud appeal was not met with the decision that the visitors wanted. Later it was Nuwan Kulasekara who had a big shout denied against Jahurul Islam. The Decision Review System (DRS) is not being used in Sri Lanka and the Bangladesh players hardly seemed flustered - because the BCB also doesn't employ the DRS.
Chandimal had seen off Gazi's first spell, but the replacement at the Fort End almost brought Bangladesh a wicket. Left-arm spinner Elias Sunny struck Chandimal in front, but the loud appeal was not met with the decision that the visitors wanted. Later it was Nuwan Kulasekara who had a big shout denied against Jahurul Islam. The Decision Review System (DRS) is not being used in Sri Lanka and the Bangladesh players hardly seemed flustered - because the BCB also doesn't employ the DRS.
Concrete shoes of the day
Anamul Haque had his feet rooted to the crease to Ajantha Mendis and was cleaned up in quite an ugly manner. The ball was tossed up, but Anamul was caught between trying to make room for an inside out shot and wanting the ball to turn some more to work it on the leg side. Between the two shots, he was caught without any footwork, and with all three of his stumps exposed. His response was to swing his bat around a few times, dangerously close to the stumps and the ball, then walk away disgusted. Mendis, playing his first Test in nearly three years, had a wicket in his first over.
Anamul Haque had his feet rooted to the crease to Ajantha Mendis and was cleaned up in quite an ugly manner. The ball was tossed up, but Anamul was caught between trying to make room for an inside out shot and wanting the ball to turn some more to work it on the leg side. Between the two shots, he was caught without any footwork, and with all three of his stumps exposed. His response was to swing his bat around a few times, dangerously close to the stumps and the ball, then walk away disgusted. Mendis, playing his first Test in nearly three years, had a wicket in his first over.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent