Shadman Defends Bangladesh Batting After Top-Order Collapses Against Sri Lanka

Following a challenging first day in the second Test against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam has voiced his support for the team's batting lineup.

Despite several batsmen managing to get starts, none were able to convert them into significant scores. Poor shot selection plagued the Bangladesh innings, leading to a disappointing close on a rain-affected day.

Shadman top-scored for Bangladesh with 46 on a rain-hit opening day © AFP

Shadman himself led the way with 46, while Mominul Haque (21), Mushfiqur Rahim (35), Litton Kumar Das (34), and Mehidy Hasan (31) all made starts. However, after weathering the initial challenges, they struggled to maintain their composure and capitalize on their opportunities.

Key Quotes from Shadman Islam:

• "You cannot score runs without playing shots. We played shots in Galle too where those ended in boundaries. But unfortunately, maybe it was not our day today."

• "Maybe some shots were wrong. It's part of cricket."

• "I think the wicket was a little bit slow. There was no movement in the morning but we threw our wickets away but hopefully we won't do that in the second innings."

Shadman also suggested that the intermittent rain disrupted their rhythm. The breaks forced batters to readjust after losing momentum. "The batters need to get set again after a break. Maybe it played a role," he stated.

He defended the captain's decision to bat first, adding, "No, I haven't seen anything like that from which we can say that the decision was wrong [opting to bat first]. The wicket was a bit slow. I hope 270-280 is a good score. If we can bowl well, we will make a comeback Insha'Allah."

Shadman remains optimistic about Bangladesh's chances. He believes that a competitive total is within reach. He emphasized the importance of disciplined bowling. "If we can bowl in good areas, then we can make a comeback as there's help on the wicket," he concluded.

Sri Lanka's Perspective

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's bowling coach, Thilina Kandamby, expressed surprise at the pitch conditions at the SSC. "It's quite an unusual wicket at the SSC. Normally, you get true bounce here, but today it was a bit two-paced," said Kandamby.

He praised his fast bowlers. "The fast bowlers really showed character. They picked up key wickets and kept us in the game," he said. He also voiced confidence in Prabath, expecting him to regain his form soon.