Sri Lanka on course for Test-series sweep of Bangladesh
Sri Lanka bolstered their chance to sweep the two-match series against Bangladesh despite suffering a batting collapse on day three of the final Test yesterday.
After gaining a huge first innings lead, Sri Lanka reached 102 for six at stumps, to extend their overall advantage to 455 runs.
The tourists bowled out Bangladesh earlier for a paltry total of 178 but chose not to enforce the follow-on.
Fast bowler Asitha Fernando claimed four wickets for 34 as Bangladesh were dismissed for fewer than 200 for the third time in a row.
His fellow opener Vishwa Fernando picked up two for 38, including the wicket of Zakir Hasan, who top-scored with 54 after Bangladesh had resumed on 55 for one.
It was a big blow for the hosts when skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, on one, clipped a ball straight to short mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who captured two for 65.
Vishwa then dismissed nightwatchman Taijul Islam for 22.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers kept a tight length
and received another reward when Asitha claimed two wickets in an over.
Playing his first Test in a year, the dangerous Shakib Al Hasan was trapped leg before wicket (lbw) for 15 by a sharp inswinger.
Liton Das hit Asitha for a boundary off his second ball but the bowler exacted his revenge with a short of a length delivery that took the outside edge.
Shahadat Hossain was then caught by Kamindu Mendis off fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who took two for 19, for eight.
Mehidy Hasan was trapped lbw by Jayasuriya for seven before Asitha wrapped up the Bangladesh innings by removing Mominul Haque, who made 33, and Syed Khaled Ahmed.
“We failed with the bat,” Bangladesh opener Zakir said. “We couldn’t bat to our potential. We couldn’t perform our roles. We couldn’t play as we were supposed to play.”
There was another clatter of wickets when Sri Lanka batted again, with Bangladesh fast bowlers Hasan Mahmud, who claimed four for 51, and Khaled Ahmed, with two for 29, doing the damage.
“I think our bowlers got help from the wind,” Zakir said. “It provided for extra movement. They were 80-odd for six at one stage. Both sides got this help from the wind so 15 wickets fell today.”
Angelo Mathews was 39 not out at stumps and Jayasuriya was unbeaten on three.
Sri Lanka won the first test by 328 runs.