Opener Tamim Iqbal returned to his usual best, smashing an eye-catching century against Sri Lanka XI on the first day of the two-day practice match yesterday at  De Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa.
Tamim’s 136 off 182, laced with nine fours and seven sixes, steered Bangladesh to a gigantic 391 for seven before the bails were drawn.
The opener himself retired after his knock in a bid to give the chance to other players to bat on. Bangladesh team management made some experiments in the practice match to determine how the things would go on in the Test series. In line with the experiment, captain Mushfiqur Rahim batted at No. 4 position and scored 21 runs. It was not the performance that the team management wants from him but considering him as the best batsman of the country at the moment, the management wants him to reduce the workload by being stripped off the wicket-keeping and batting at crucial No. 4 position.
Though the scoreboard suggested he is in the team as wicket-keeper batsman, Liton Das would keep when Bangladesh will be bowling today.
Liton Das himself hit an unbeaten 57 runs to force his case stronger ahead of the Test series.
Bangladesh didn’t play Sabbir Rahman in the match, meaning axe would fall on him since Liton is all but sure to make a return to the Test cricket.
Sabbir and Mahmudullah Riyad were considered to be axed in favour of Liton initially. But the team management kept faith on senior player Mahmudullah and he paid it off with 43 runs on the first day of the match.
Opener Soumya Sarkar and Mehedi Hasan Miraj were the two batsmen to fall for single digit figure as Bangladesh were sent to bat first. Sarkar’s departure for 9, hardly made an impact on Bangladesh as Mominul Haque and Tamim shared 143 runs for the second wicket stand to stall the local side’s progress.
Mominul sent the ball across the rope for 10 times in his 73 off 103. Like Tamim, Mominul also retired from batting.
Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim then further punished the Lankan bowlers to steady the innings. Mushfiqur, batted at No. 4 position after a long time, could not make impact much but he was confident, according to the team management source. His innings was studded with two fours.
Soon after the departure of Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal took a retirement form the innings as Mahmudullah and Shakib were waiting for the chance.
Both of them played in aggressive mode but failed to convert the start to a big one. Riyad hit three fours and two sixes in his 43 runs knock while Shakib made 30 with three fours.
Taijul Islam was batting on 4, alongside Liton Das after the day’s play.
Bangladesh also included Shuvashis Roy, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed in the game in which 12 players were allowed to play.
Pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi was rested but is expected to make a comeback
in the Test series at the expense of Shuvashis Roy.

SCOREBOARD
Bangladesh 1st innings:
Tamim retd out     136
Soumya c Chandraguptha b Samarakoon     9
Mominul retd out     73
Mushfiqur b Karunaratne     21
Shakib lbw b Ambuldeniya     30
M Riyad c Chandimal b Karunaratne     43
Liton Das not out     57
Mehedi c Chandimal b Karunaratne     1
Taijul Islam not out     4
Extras (b 5, lb 6, w 1, nb 5)     17
Total (7 wickets; 90 overs)    391
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-169, 3-244, 4-264, 5-302, 6-361, 7-365
BOWLING    O    M    R    W
C Karunaratne    17    2    61    3
S Samarakoon    15    2    70    1
M Buddika    18    0    68    0
P Jayawickrama    7    0    51
I Samarasooriya    8    1    22    0
L Ambuldeniya    11    1    57    1
P de Silva    14    1    51    0