DHAKA, March 24, 2024 (BSS) - Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis both achieved the record of hitting centuries in both innings of the Test in a same match as Sri Lanka reached 338-7 at tea on Day 3 of the series opening cricket Test against Bangladesh today at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Having done so, they extended their lead 430, which is deemed a quite tough target to achieve on a pitch that favours pace bowlers heavily.

De Silva hit 108 off 179, an innings laced with nine fours and two sixes before he was the only wicket to be fallen in second session when Mehidy Hasan Miraz had him caught by Zakir Hasan at short mid-wicket.

De Silva scored 102 runs in his first innings and became sixth Sri Lankan batter to achieve the feat.

Kamindu who also scored 102 runs in the first innings, reached his second hundred and joined the elite list as seventh Sri Lankan batter by pushing Najmul Hossain Shanto for a single off 171 balls in the last over of the second session.

He was batting on 100 with Prabath Jayasuriya on 13 at the second interval of the day.

Resuming at 119-5, Sri Lanka lost nightwatchman Fernando for 4, in just third over of the day but that was the only time in the session when Bangladesh could celebrate.

De Silva and Kamindu then kept the home side frustrated throughout the whole session, keeping the scoreboard going with ease.

De Silva, who started the day, with boundary off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, raised his 14th half-century off 82 balls, pushing fast bowler Nahid Rana to third man for a single.

He then paced the inning, smashing offspinner Mehidy Hasan consecutive sixes – first one with a slog-swept six over deep mid-wicket and then slogged him again at the same region.

He raised his 12th century off 164 balls with a single off Mehidy Hasan Miraz but soon after Miraz got him to end 173-run partnership between de Silva and Kamindu.

Kamindu however held firm and saw off the session with Jayasuriya to keep Sri Lanka going.

Nahid Rana and Miraz claimed two wickets apiece for Bangladesh.