Late wickets give Sri Lanka edge over B'desh

Bangladesh cricketers Soumya Sarkar (R) and Tamim Iqbal (L). Pic/PTI

Galle: Bangladesh's Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal shared a century opening stand before Sri Lanka took two late wickets to tighten their grip on the first Test here yesterday.

Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Mendis raises his bat and helmet in celebration after scoring a century. Pic/PTI

The visitors were 133-2 at stumps on the second day and trailing by 361, after Kusal Mendis (194), Niroshan Dickwella (75) and Dilruwan Perera (51) had swelled the hosts' total to 494.

Soumya was leading the response for Bangladesh with an unbeaten 66 after his 118-run opening stand ended with a bizarre run-out for his partner, Tamim, who made 57 off 112 balls with six fours. Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella had appealed for a caught behind off Lakshan Sandakan and dislodged the bails quickly once his appeal was turned down as Tamim walked out of the crease.