Sports Reporters :
Two centuries by Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal steered Sri Lanka to make a comfortable 305 for the loss of four wickets in the second innings (declared) against Bangladesh on the fourth day of the second Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Friday.
Later, Bangladesh scored 12 for the loss of none in the second innings before the bails were drawn for the fourth day.
Earlier, Sri Lanka decided to bat first and piled up a huge 587 in the first innings on the second day.
Bangladesh resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 409 for the loss of eight wickets on
the fourth day, but the home side lost their rest of the two wickets adding just 17 runs. It was Ajantha Mendis, who dismissed rest of the two wickets thus Bangladesh were all out for 426 in the first innings.
Ajantha Mendis bowled very well and completed his spell as 29.5-3-99-6. It was Ajantha’s fourth five-wicket haul in an innings in Test cricket in his career. Bangladesh have to score 455 runs in the second innings to win on the fifth and last day. It is an impossible task for the hosts.
On the other hand, if Bangladesh do not loss rest of the 10 wickets on the last day Bangladesh can be able to settle a respectable draw. Sri Lanka made a shaky start losing early three wickets for 78 runs. Then, Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal rescued their team from danger adding together 145 runs in the fourth wicket partnership before Kumar Sangakkara was cleanly bowled out by spinner Shohag Gazi when the islanders’ total was 223 for the loss of four wickets. Sangakkara knocked a terrific 105 from 144 balls. His 176-minute innings was decorated with 11 boundaries and two over-boundaries. After dismissal of Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews put on together 82 runs in the unbroken fifth wicket stand.
Chandimal remained undefeated with exact 100 runs. His 158-ball knock was laced with four boundaries. Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten with 43 off 38 balls amid three fours and a six. Mahmudullah Riyad bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 46 runs, while Shakib Al Hasan and Shohag Gazi took one wicket each conceding 80 and 87 runs respectively.
