The left-handed batsman reached his 30th Test fifty but Bangladesh’s score in the second innings was only 52.
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Tamim Iqbal set a new record in international cricket when he reached his half-century on the final day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Sunday. The feat was so unique that it was only the second time in 131 years that it was repeated. Bangladesh’s team total was 52/2 when he reached 50, the lowest ever for a team when a player has scored a half-century.
The previous record was set in 1890. JJ Lyons scored a half-century for Australia against England in a team total of 55. In 2014, Chris Gayle also scored a half-century in a West Indies team total of 55 against New Zealand during the second Test in Port of Spain.
Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne spent 24 hours in the field in a Test match that saw bowlers struggle. He fielded for 13 hours and opened the batting for Sri Lanka. His knock took 11 hours and three minutes.
Karunaratne reached his maiden double-hundred by edging Taskin Ahmed for a four. This was the first double-hundred in Pallekele and the first by a Sri Lankan batter at home in seven years. In 2017, he had a high score of 196 against Pakistan in Dubai. He pierced the covers at will throughout his innings, in these humid conditions, he also ran well between the wickets, picking up plenty of twos and threes.
With a lead of 107 runs and two sessions left, Sri Lanka took two early wickets after lunch. However Tamim Iqbal snuffed out their hopes of securing a result. No play was possible after tea due to rain.
The match ended in a draw but the pitch has been under scrutiny for being batsman-friendly. Both teams had their moments of glory and despair. But none of it came close to producing any excitement or the result. As many as four batsmen notched up tons and made merry of the conditions on offer. The second Test at the same venue is expected to produce a result.
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