Jayawickrama wrecks BD to put Sri Lanka on top

Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama took six wickets on debut to dismiss Bangladesh for 251 and give Sri Lanka a commanding lead on Saturday on day three of the second Test.

The 22-year-old Jayawickrama's 6-92 bettered Upul Chandana's record of 6-179 in 1999 when he won his first cap against Pakistan in Dhaka. Jayawickrama, a replacement for the injured Lasith Embuldeniya, has had a modest record in first-class cricket, but impressed at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium giving Sri Lanka a healthy 242-run first-innings lead.

He was backed by offspinner Ramesh Mendis who took two wickets. Sri Lanka, who declared earlier in the day on 493-7, did not enforce the follow-on and were 17 for two at stumps with two days' play remaining and a 259-run lead.

The tourists had got off to a solid start with the openers adding 98 runs for the first wicket. Jayawickrama then claimed his maiden Test wicket when Saif Hassan was caught at gully for 25. Ramesh Mendis then accounted for Najmul Shanto for a duck in the next over.

A 52-run stand followed between Tamim and captain Mominul Haque before Jayawickrama broke the stand. Tamim's outside edge was grabbed by Lahiru Thirimanne at slips.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul were rebuilding the innings as Bangladesh reached 200 without trouble but in the last over before tea, Jaya w ickrama trapped Mushfiqur leg before wicket for 40. In the final session, Bangladesh collapsed, losing six wickets for 27 runs. Resuming from their overnight score of 469-6, Sri Lanka declared after 3.3 overs having added 24 runs.