Mathews, Chandimal each hit tons as Sri Lanka extends lead

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews (L) and Dinesh Chandimal take a run during the fourth day of the second Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on 26 May, 2022AFP

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal each struck hundreds to guide Sri Lanka towards a sizeable first-innings lead in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday.

Sri Lanka reached 459 by tea on the fourth day without losing a wicket after resuming on 282-5.

Mathews was batting on 123 and Chandimal on 120, having guided the visitors to a 94-run lead at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The pair had so far added 193 runs in their unbroken sixth-wicket stand.

Mathews was given out caught behind off Khaled Ahmed on 94 but survived on review.

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) during the fourth day of the second Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on 26 May, 2022
AFP

Thursday brought his second Test century in the series and the 13th in his career with a single off Mosaddek Hossain before luck smiled on him again.

He was given leg-before off Mosaddek at 105 but the decision was reversed on review.

Chandimal enjoyed a similar lucky spell in the morning session after a caught behind call on the fourth ball of Mominul Haque's first over was overturned.

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews (L) celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) during the fourth day of the second Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on 26 May, 2022
AFP

Two balls later the right-hander narrowly survived a stumping chance on 44.

He later hit Ebadot Hossain for two successive fours before reaching his 12th Test century with a single in the same over.

Chandimal hit 10 fours and a six so far in his innings while a relatively sedate Mathews, who was one shy of a double ton in the drawn first Test in Chittagong, has hit nine fours and two sixes.