Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Bangladesh on the fifth and final day of the second Test at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka, to take the two-match series 1-0.
Asitha Fernando starred with the ball for the visitors, backing up his 4/93 in the first innings with a maiden Test five-for – 6/51 – in the second to complete a 10-wicket match haul. He became only the second Sri Lankan quick to register 10 wickets in a Test after Chaminda Vaas, who had achieved the feat twice across his 111 Test appearances.
Bangladesh resumed the day at an overnight 34/4 after Fernando and Kasun Rajiha had triggered their second top-order collapse of the day on the fourth evening. The latter castled Mushfiqur Rahim for 23 to make it 53/5, with the hosts still 88 away from Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 506 all-out in their second dig.
A solid resistance between Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das followed, with the pair taking Bangladesh into the lead by lunch to revive hopes of a draw. However, Fernando had Das caught off his own bowling in just the second over of the post-lunch session for 52, ending a 27.3 overs long stand at 103. Shakib was undone by a bouncer from the same bowler to be caught behind, triggering a stunning 5/13 collapse that saw the hosts bundle out for 169.
Rajitha played an able supporting hand with 2/40, while Ramesh Mendis returned 1/20 with his off-breaks. It took Sri Lanka just three-overs to wipe off the 29-run target, with Oshada Fernando striking three fours and a six in a nine-ball unbeaten 21, while skipper Dimuth Karunaratne stood at 7*.
Earlier, the Bangla Tigers were bundled out for 365 in their first innings after lunch on Day 2 after opting to bat, riding on hundreds by Rahim (175*) and Das (141), who added 272 runs for the sixth wicket after they were reduced to 24/5 on the first morning.
SL responded strongly with 506 to secure a 141-run lead, with the experienced Angelo Mathews (145*) and Dinesh Chandimal (124) being the chief contributors, after both openers had scored fifties earlier.
Winning captain Karunaratne lauded his speedsters for their stellar show and hoped for improvement on the spin-front.
“We do get good wickets for spinners in such conditions, they did well in patches, but I’m a bit disappointed at how they bowled. They’ll have to do a lot better in the next series. We have done well as a Test team over the last few years, a lot of performances and we’ll need to continue in the same way.”
he told host broadcasters after the game.
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque reflected on the positives after a tough result.
“A disappointing performance, have to work hard. But there were some positives, Rahim and Litton batted really well. They put us under pressure with the new-ball, we’ll have to handle it better next time.
It’s all about the mental thing, we need to be mentally strong if we’re to comeback in the next series. We have to look after our bowlers, especially the pacers.”
he said.
The first Test in Chattogram had ended in a draw, with Mathews dismissal for 199 and Mushfiqur becoming the first Bangladesh batter to 5,000 Test runs being the major highlights in a batting-dominated game.
The win helped Sri Lanka gain crucial points in the World Test Championship 2023 points table, in which they are now placed fourth behind Australia, South Africa and India, respectively, with three wins, two defeats and a draw. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are eighth with a sole win from eight games, with just England below them in the table.
