Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam dismissed in bizarre fashion against Sri Lanka

Bangladesh cricketer Taijul Islam has been thwarted by some loose shoelaces, his defiant knock against Sri Lanka cruelly cut short.

Taijul Islam dismissed hit wicket.

Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam has joined an unwanted list of Test cricketers to be dismissed hit wicket — in arguably the unluckiest fashion imaginable.

During the second Test at Pallekele, Bangladesh was 9/251 late on day three, still trailing Sri Lanka by 242 runs.

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Islam had patiently survived 49 deliveries at the crease before some loose shoelaces proved his undoing.

Facing Sri Lankan paceman Suranga Lakmal, the 29-year-old attempted a regulation backfoot defensive shot, only for his left foot to slip out of his shoe.

Islam then inadvertently pushed his shoe onto the stumps, ending the Bangladesh innings in bizarre circumstances.

Lakmal became just the second Sri Lankan bowler to dismiss a batter hit wicket in Test cricket, joining the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan — who achieved the rare feat in 1997.

Unusual dismissal in the Sri Lanka versus Bangladesh Test match when Taijul Islam was out hit wicket when his cricket boot came off #Cricket#SLvBANpic.twitter.com/H7lFN1rBhL

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) May 2, 2021

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Although he only contributed nine runs with the bat, Islam was Bangladesh’s chief destroyer with the ball in the second innings, claiming 5/72 from his 19.2 overs.

Islam has taken 134 wickets in 33 Tests, including eight five-wicket hauls — the second most for Bangladesh in the game’s longest format.

Sri Lanka won the second Test by 209 runs to clinch a 1-0 series victory, with debutant Praveen Jayawickrama snaring 11 wickets.

Chasing a daunting target of 437 to win, Bangladesh were dismissed for 227 in the morning session of the final day.

The first Test ended in a draw after an avalanche of runs, the two sides scoring 1289 for the loss of just 17 wickets.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test, declaring at 7/493 before bowling Bangladesh out for 251, but did not enforce the follow-on.

The hosts then declared their second innings at 9/194.

— with AFP