Don’t judge a pitch by its colour!

Rex Clementine at Pallekele

Don’t judge a book by its cover is a phrase that is often used. Maybe in cricket terminology who should introduce something new like don’t judge a pitch by its colour. The green top at Pallekele looked to be a monster. It looked more like Newlands in Cape Town or Basin Reserve in Wellington than Kandy. But appearances can be deceptive.  That is what the first Test at Pallekele taught us as there  were no demons on the pitch.  

Sri Lanka packed their side with seam hoping they will be able to exploit the conditions. Bangladesh meanwhile were positive. Instead of chickening out, they opted to bat first after winning the toss and they were sitting pretty at stumps having reached a commanding 302 for two.

The seamers weren’t able to get any movement off the patch. There was a bit of moisture in the morning but the quicks weren’t bowling in the right areas. Asitha Fernando instead of Lahiru Kumara could have perhaps used the conditions better but, hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

However, there’s one selection that you don’t understand. That is whether Wanindu Hasaranga is Test material. He struggled on day one. Should Sri Lanka have backed their off-spinner is the question that has been asked.

Having said that, we are well aware of the fact that leg-spinners take time to develop and given the promise Hasaranga has shown, it’s not a bad ploy to back him. But, Sri Lanka needs results. They last won a Test match in January last year. Since then, they have played seven Tests, losing four and drawing three.

Tamim Iqbal put up a fine show. He attacked from the start without letting the bowlers settle in. He was scoring less than run a ball and was all set to post his tenth Test hundred when one shot too many cost him his wicket. Tamim’s 90 came off 101 balls with 15 boundaries.

But there was no stopping young Najmul Santo, an elegant 21-year-old batsman with a lot of promise. He was dropped early in his innings by Niroshan Dickwella and he cashed in making an unbeaten 126.

After Tamim was dismissed, captain Mominul Haque joined Santo and they added 150 runs for the third wicket without being separated. Mominul was unbeaten on 64.

Sri Lanka hardly looked as if they were able to make a breakthrough even after they took the second new ball. A tough day two awaits them.