Bangladesh batters dominated Sri Lankan bowlers on Day 3 of the first Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram yesterday.

Resuming the day on 76/0 in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 397, Bangladesh reached 318/3 in 107 overs at the close of play, still trailing by 79 runs.

The major blow for Bangladesh on the day has been Tamim Iqbal’s forced departure following the end of the second session. Tamim, on 133 off 217 deliveries, could not continue batting after Tea after suffering a cramp. He was involved in a 162-run stand for the first wicket with Mahmudul Hasan Joy (58 off 142) – the first century opening stand for Bangladesh in five years.

Tamim Iqbal celebrates his century.

The southpaw, who scored a fluent century, his 10th Test ton, was retired hurt while being just 19 runs shy of becoming the first Bangladeshi to reach the 5000-run landmark. Mushfiqur, meanwhile, seems likely to be beating Tamim to the punch as he now remains only 15 runs short of the feat as he was already on 4932 runs in 80 Tests before the start of the Chattogram encounter.

Kasun Rajitha, who took the field as a concussion sub, claimed two quick wickets, but Bangladesh once again found another solid partnership of 97 runs in 210 between two unbeaten batters, Litton Das (54 off 113) and Mushfiqur Rahim.

After Tamim was forced off the field due to the injury, Mushfiqur stitched a commanding 98-run stand with Liton in the middle to ensure Bangladesh’s dominance in the game. Mushfiqur, who had a few close going his way, scored his 26th Test fifty off 124 deliveries during a knock that has so far seen two boundaries.