Hasan puts Sri Lanka in a spin

Shakib Al Hasan grabbed two quick wickets to help Bangladesh restrict Sri Lanka to 139-4 at tea on the opening day of the first Test here on Friday.

The left-arm spinner dismissed Kumar Sangakkara (43) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (three) when the visitors looked set to post a big total after electing to bat. Sri Lanka were comfortably placed at 119-1 following a 95-run stand for the second wicket between Michael Vandort (44) and Sangakkara, but lost both the well-set batsmen in quick succession.

Hasan broke the partnership when he had Sangakkara caught by skipper Mohammad Ashraful at mid-wicket. The Sri Lankan hit seven fours, including two in the spinner’s one over. Vandort fell two overs later, top-edging a pull off seamer Shahadat Hossain to be caught by Hasan at mid-wicket. His 124-ball knock contained a six over long-on off Hasan.

Hasan struck again when he bowled Jayawardene, with Sri Lanka losing three wickets in the space of just 16 runs. Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 10 and Tillakaratne Dilshan had yet to open his account at the interval.

Only 12 overs were possible in the morning session after a delayed start due to heavy fog. Bangladesh denied Sri Lanka a solid start when new-ball bowler Mashrafe Mortaza trapped Malinda Warnapura (14) leg-before in the ninth over with a delivery that came in sharply. AFP

SRI LANKA 1st innings

MG Vandort c Shakib Al Hasan b Shahadat Hossain		44
BSM Warnapura lbw b Mashrafe Mortaza			14
KC Sangakkara c Mohammad Ashraful b Shakib Al Hasan	43
DPMD Jayawardene b Shakib Al Hasan			 3
TT Samaraweera not out					10
TM Dilshan not out					 1
EXTRAS (b 4, lb 6, w 10 nb 5)				25
TOTAL (4 wickets; 48.4 overs)				140
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-24 (Warnapura), 2-119 (Sangakkara) 3-121 (Vandort), 4-135 (DPMD Jayawardene).
BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 13-1-48-1, Mahbubul Alam 13-4-23-0, 
Shahadat Hossain 9-2-23-1, Shakib Al Hasan 13.4-3-36-2.