Bangladesh need a mammoth total to win against SL

Sri Lanka set the target of 437 runs for Bangladesh as they declared the innings at 194/9 on day four during their second Test at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Sri Lanka decided to declare when Taijul Islam completed his five-wicket haul by clean bowling Suranga Lakmal after Lunch. They lost three wickets after Lunch, Niroshan Dickwella was caught at the deep square leg boundary off Taskin Ahmed and Ramesh Mendis was returned by Taijul. This was only his second five-wicket haul on foreign soil.

Bangladesh spinners dominated the field since the beginning of the session on the fourth day. They returned 4 batters of the opponents including big wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne (66) and Dhananjaya de Silva (41).

Taijul Islam returned Angelo Mathews(12) and Pathum Nissanka (24). Mehedi Hasan Miraz got the wicket of De silva, who scored 41 runs off 52 balls. Saif Hassan got the important wicket of Karunaratne caught at short-leg by substitute fielder Yasir Ali Rabbi.

Earlier on day four Sri Lanka have moved their lead past 400 in the first session of day four with another fabulous batting from captain Dimuth Karunaratne on a real turning pitch where spinners bowled 30 overs among session’s 32 overs.

The hosts ended the session at 172/6 in 29 overs adding 155 runs losing 4 wickets to their overnight scor of 17/2. Karunaratne continued his good form and smashed another half-century before he got out to part-timer Saif Hassan scoring 66 runs off 78 balls.

It was all spin in the first session as all 4 wickets were taken by the spinners. Besides Saif Hassan, Taijul Islam took two and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took one. The other wickets were- Angelo Mathews (12), Dhananjaya de Silva (41) and Pathum Nissanka (24).

Sri Lanka took 414 runs lead going into lunch. Niroshan Dickwella (23*) and Ramesh Mendis (2*) will resume the next session of the day. It’s all about when Sri Lanka will declare at the moment as they’re already in a position from where their bowlers can attack and win the match for them. 

Earlier on day three Mehidy Hasan Miraz got the wicket of Lahiru Thirimanne (2), while Taijul Islam bagged Oshada Fernando for 1. The Lankans post 17 for 2 at the end of the day.

Bangladesh were all out for 251 runs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 493 in the first innings on day three.

The visitors lost seven wickets for just 37 runs in their first innings as Sri Lanka spinner Praveen Jayawickrama took six wickets on debut.The 22-year old left-arm spinner broke the Sri Lankan record for the best figures on Test debut, taking 6 wickets for 92 runs, while Ramesh Mendis and Suranga Lakmal took two each.