DYNAMIC ASITHA MAKES IT SRI LANKA’S DAY
Sri Lanka continued their dominance over Bangladesh as they built up a mammoth 455-run lead on the third day of the second and final Test match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday. Sri Lanka reached 102 for six wickets in their second innings with Angelo Mathews unbeaten on 39 and Prabath Jayasuriya batting on three.
Right-arm fast bowler Hasan Mahmud was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with four wickets for 51 in 11 overs.
Even then, the day belonged to Sri Lanka’s quicks as they blasted Bangladesh out for their third sub-200 score this series, on a much flatter surface than they had enjoyed in Sylhet.
Asitha Fernando led the way with four wickets, and Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara claimed two each. Prabath Jayasuriya wheeled away dutifully at the other end and claimed two for himself as well.
Sri Lanka, who had earlier posted 531 runs before being all out, could have enforced the follow-on but they chose to bat again.
Fast bowler Asitha Fernando wrecked havoc on Bangladesh registering his career-best four for 34 as Bangladesh’s innings were wrapped up in an extended tea session.
But Vishwa Fernando caused the initial damage when Bangladesh were on song, courtesy to Zakir’s free flowing batting. Mominul Haque was the other one to offer some resistance with 33.
But most of the Bangladesh batters, including Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played loose shots to hasten their downfall as Bangladesh failed to get past 200 runs in third consecutive time against Sri Lanka.
Zakir began the day by hitting Sri Lanka Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva a boundary through short third man and then took on pacer Lahiru Kumara to keep the scoreboard going.
He raised his fourth 50 off 97 balls, steering Fernando past gully for a boundary.
Shortly after his fifty, Fernando jagged one in late to rattle his stump to give Sri Lanka the first breakthrough of the day.
On the stroke of the lunch, Vishwa Fernando struck again to worsen Bangladesh further by dismissing nightwatchman Taijul Islam for 22.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz started the things as if Bangladesh came to chase in any T20 game. From the first ball, he tried to be at his attacking best but hardly could display any skill to put the bowlers in sword.
However, he played one shot too may and paid the price when Jayasuriya had him leg-before for 7. Asitha then trapped Mominul leg-before with a yorker before rattling the stump of Khaled to give Sri Lanka a massive lead.