Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh struggled to avoid defeat scoring 177 for the loss of five wickets in their second innings against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the second Test match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka declared their first innings after piling up 493 for the loss of seven wickets on the third day (Saturday).
In reply, Bangladesh were all out for 251 on the third day.
Later, the hosts declared their second innings making 194 for the loss of nine wickets and set 437 runs to win for the tourists in the second innings.
The tourists need 260 runs to win with five wickets in hand on the fifth and final day. Sri Lanka resumed their second innings with the overnight score of 17 for the loss of two wickets.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews resumed their second innings with the overnight score of 13 and one run respectively.
Karunaratne and Dhananjaya were the two batsmen of the hosts’ who could resist the superb bowling attack of Taijul Islam and his teammate bowlers.
Karunaratne hit 66 from 78 balls with seven fours and a sixer.
Dhananjaya made 41 from 52 balls featuring four fours and a six.
Taijul Islam grabbed five wickets at the cost of 72 runs, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged two wickets in the space of 66 runs.
Saif Hassan and Taskin Ahmed took one wicket each for 22 and 26 runs respectively.
Openers Tamim Iqbal and Saif Hassan put on together 31 runs before Tamim Iqbal (24) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella off Ramesh Mendis.
Saif Hassan and one-down Najmul Hossaain Shanto contributed together 42 runs for the second wicket partnership before Saif Hassan (34) was caught at the cover by Lakmal off Jayawickrama when Bangladesh’s score was 73 for the loss of two wickets.
Shanto and Mominul Haque put up together 31 runs in the four-wicket stand before Shanto (26) was cleanly bowled out by Jayawickrama when the tourists’ total was 104 for the loss of three wickets.
Mominul and Mushfiqur Rahim contributed together 30 runs before Mominul (32) was bowled out by Ramesh Mendis when the visitors’ score was 134 for the loss of four wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim was caught at the first slip by Dhananjaya off Mendis when Bangladesh’s score was 171 for the loss of five wickets.
Mushfiqur made 40 from 63 balls including five fours.
Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz was on 14 and four runs respectively.
Mendis grabbed three wickets giving 86 runs, while Jayawickrama bagged two wickets for 58 runs.