Sri Lanka Aims for Decisive Lead Over Bangladesh as Spin Looms

Sri Lanka Eyes Commanding Lead Against Bangladesh, Says Kusal Mendis

Kusal Mendis, the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter, expressed confidence that his team could establish a significant lead, potentially between 150 and 200 runs, to gain a dominant position in the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh. He anticipates that spin bowling will become a crucial factor in the final two days of the match.

Mendis credited Nissanka for his brilliant batting display © AFP

Sri Lanka currently holds a 43-run lead after the first innings, fueled by Pathum Nissanka's impressive unbeaten 146 and Dinesh Chandimal's solid 93, concluding Day 2 at 290/2.

"We are in a very good position, and tomorrow we have to bat the whole day. We will try to get a lead of 150 to 200. We hope the wicket will spin on the final two days," Mendis stated following the second day's play. He further elaborated on their strategy, aiming for a total exceeding 400 runs and avoiding batting in the fourth innings.

"We're planning to score as much as possible - get something over 400. Hopefully, we can do that tomorrow."

He also noted the changing conditions of the pitch, suggesting it would favor spin as the match progresses. "The grass has dried out, footmarks are forming, and I expect it to turn more. We are not looking to bat in the fourth innings. We want to bat deep now and put them under pressure," he added.

Mendis lauded Nissanka's batting prowess, recognizing his consistent performance across all formats. He also acknowledged the significant contribution of the Sri Lankan pacers, who played a key role in dismissing Bangladesh for under 250 runs.

"He (Pathum) has been a treat to watch. He batted so well. Even in the last series, he was amongst the runs. It was a shame he missed out on a double hundred in Galle - I hope he gets there here. He has been our in-form batter in all three formats. He works hard on his game, and that's clearly visible."

He continued, "What we planned, the quicks executed. They were disciplined with their lengths and lines. On a pitch with not much pace, that's exactly what you need - not just with the new ball, but with the old ball too. That's the best I have seen our fast bowlers bowl in Sri Lanka."

Mendis anticipates a significant shift in playing conditions as the match advances. "We knew the wicket would slow down and turn. Our fast bowlers were outstanding, and they deserve a lot of credit. I believe as we head into Day Four, conditions will be very different to what we've seen so far," he added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons attributed their struggles to the batting unit's inability to form substantial partnerships and observed changes in the pitch conditions during the second innings.

"Where we missed a trick was not building big partnerships yesterday, and as a result, we went into today with only two or three wickets in hand."

He further explained, "It comes back to our batting and the partnerships we failed to build. At least two or three guys should have carried on yesterday and gotten big scores. I hope we've taken note of how well Nissanka batted, and that we come out in the second innings aiming for big runs."

Simmons acknowledged the improved batting conditions, stating, "The wicket definitely improved as on the first day, it was a bit sticky and two-paced. Today, it got a lot better, and we saw how easy it was for the batters. There wasn't as much turn as yesterday, and the batters batted well. That's what Test cricket is about sometimes," he added.