Mominul ton helps Bangladesh A gain lead over Sri Lanka

A brilliant century by Mominul Haque and a seven-wicket haul by spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz enabled touring Bangladesh A to take a 15-run lead in the first innings over hosts Sri Lankan A with six wickets in hand on the 2nd day of the four-day unofficial Test at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota on Saturday.

Sri Lanka resumed the first innings on Saturday morning with their overnight total of 223 for 5 in 74 overs and were bundled out for 268 runs in 90.2 overs against devastating bowling by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who grabbed seven wicket for 84 runs.

Two overnight batsmen-- Charith Asalanka (17) contributed 44 runs off 100 balls hitting eight boundaries and Lu Iqalagamage (2) scored 50-ball 20 runs with two boundaries.

Miraz, 21-year-old right arm off-break bowler from Khulna who grabbed three wickets on Friday, made a brilliant finish of 37-14-84-7 while Ebadat Hossain picked two conceding 62 runs.

In reply, the 2nd string Bangladesh team opened the first innings and scored 283 runs for 6 in 67 overs to take the 15- run lead, featuring 154 runs in the 3rd wicket stand by captain Mominul and opener Shadman Islam.

After the dismissal of two top batsmen –Jahurul Islam (1) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (9) –for 22 runs in 5.1 overs, two down Mominul Haque played a captain's knock of 117 runs off 190 balls hitting 15 four and one six while Shadman Islam scored 104-ball 77 runs with eight fours and one six.

Nurul Hasan and Miraz were in batting with 35 and six runs respectively after Mohammad Mithun's 21 runs.

M Shuraz claimed three Bangladesh wickets for 56 runs while NGRP Jayasuriya took two 87 runs.