Bangladesh pacers shine but Sri Lanka on top

Asitha Fernando claimed 4-34 as Sri Lanka bowled out Bangladesh for 178 to take a massive 353-run lead in the first innings of the second Test in Chittagong on Monday.

The visitors decided against enforcing a follow-on, but were left struggling with their batting in the second innings, reaching 102-6 at stumps on the third day to extend their lead to 455 runs.

Debutant pacer Hasan Mahmud gave Bangladesh something to smile about with 4-51, while fellow pacer Khaled Mahmud also troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen with 2-29.

But Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten on 39 alongside Prabath Jayasuriya, three not out, with the pair looking to extend Sri Lanka’s lead with the help of the tail-enders.

Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya earlier chipped in with two each as Sri Lanka claimed nine wickets in two sessions to leave the hosts flattened.

Zakir Hasan made the highest score for Bangladesh with 54, while Mominul Haque offered some resistance with 33.

Resuming on 55-1 with nightwatchman Taijul Islam, Zakir survived for more than an hour before Bangladesh lost their first wicket of the day.

Sri Lanka ended Bangladesh’s dogged resistance when Vishwa Fernando, a left-arm quick, swung one in to uproot the leg stump of Zakir.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto looked edgy from the start and faced 11 balls before being dismissed by Jayasuriya for one.

Najmul departed after attempting an on-drive, which was caught at short midwicket by Dimuth Karunaratne.

Asitha Fernando brought Mominul’s resistance to an end before he bowled Khaled Ahmed for one to wrap up the innings.

Vishwa Fernando bowled Taijul for 22 with another in-swinging delivery to reduce Bangladesh to 105-4.

Asitha Fernando trapped Shakib Al Hasan leg-before for 15 and then induced an edge from Liton Das (four) in the same over.

Bangladesh kept losing wickets in clusters.

Shahadat Hossain (eight) was caught by Kamindu Mendis at slip off Kumara and Jayasuriya hit Mehidy Hasan (seven) in front.

Asitha Fernando brought Mominul’s resistance to an end before he bowled Khaled Ahmed for one to wrap up the innings.

Sri Lanka dominated Bangladesh in the first two days to amass 531, the highest Test total without any batsman scoring a century.

Sri Lanka, who have never lost a Test series to Bangladesh, won the first Test in Sylhet by 328 runs.