CHATTOGRAM, May 15, 2022 (BSS) - Sri Lanka will start the second day with an aim to put on more than 400 or 500 runs on the scoreboard in the first innings of the first Test to put an enormous pressure on Bangladesh, said their batter Kusal Mendis.

Sri Lanka ended the day one on 258-4, with Angelo Mathews batting on 114. Another experienced batter Dinesh Chandimal is on 34.

Kusal Mendis who scored 54 and accompanied Mathews in a 92-run partnership in a third wicket stand that set the tune, said the presence of Mathews gave Sri Lanka the extra edge.

"I think finishing on 258 runs is a good score on the first day. I think more than 400 or 500 runs is a good score in this pitch," Mendis said.

"Mathews played very well. He is the most senior guy in the Sri Lanka team. He played a dominating innings. I think it would be good if he goes on to make 150 or 200 tomorrow," he said.

In an otherwise a pretty flat deck, Bangladesh bowlers didn't bowl that badly and at one phase, started dominating the game when they took both of the openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando for 66.

But Mathews and Mendis indeed took the game away.

"I think the openers started really well. After two wickets fell, Angelo and I went okay. It is a very good wicket. I think they bowled very well wicket-to-wicket. Angelo (Mathews) is going well. He batted very well today."

"Taijul and the off spinner (Nayeem) bowled very well. There is a bit of turn in the wicket, not much. It is a little bit slow. They bowled wicket to wicket. We couldn't play the big shots."

Mendis said the mantra was to set them in the crease as the wicket was good to play.

"Wicket was good, so we (told each other) that we can't panic. A batter struggles for the first ten balls, but after that he can play well."