Colombo: A yet another dismal batting performance put Bangladesh on the verge of a heavy defeat in the second and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka at Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo today. The visitors ended the Day 3 at 115-6, still adrift of 96 runs to avoid an ignominious innings defeat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the abysmal batting undermined the effort of left-arm spinner Taijul Islam who brought the side back into contention with a five-for that denied Sri Lanka batters from making more carnage on an otherwise pretty easier surface. Resuming the day at 290-2, Sri Lanka were able to add just 168 runs to be all out for 458 with the rest of the eight wickets, as Taijul claimed 5-131 and Nayeem Hasan chipped in with 3-87.
Bangladesh, which were bowled out for just 247 in the first innings, faltered in the second innings too as they began with a 211-run deficit. Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy ended a horrible Sri Lanka series, even though he crossed double-digit figures for the first
time. Bijoy, who scored 0, 4, and 0 in the last three innings, this time made a run-a-ball 19 with two fours and one six before spooning a catch to short leg off Asitha Fernando.
Sri Lanka’s spinners then got into the act with Prabath Jayasuriya (2-47), skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (2-13), and Tharindu Rathnayake (1-10) accounting for five Bangladesh batters. Jayasuriya baffled Shadman Islam with a delivery that didn’t turn as much as expected. He played for the turn only to be nicked to Lahiru Udara for 12.
Dhananjaya de Silva struck twice, having dismissed Mominul Haque (15), who poked a delivery after being beaten by the flight, and his opposite number Najmul Hossain Shanto (19) with an arm ball. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahman resisted for a while before being undone by Jayasuriya for 26, which was so far the team’s best in this innings. The situation got compounded when Tharindu Rathnayake overturned the umpire’s decision in a review to trap Mehidy Hasan Miraz leg-before for 11 on what was the last ball of the
day.
Sri Lanka began the day in a positive mood with Nissanka raising his back-to-back 150 off 242 in the second over of the day, guiding Ebadot Hossain’s full-length delivery towards square leg for two. Taijul then pegged back the Sri Lankan innings, dismissing Nissanka and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva in consecutive overs.
Bangladesh had taken the second new ball as soon as it was available, and Taijul struck in the sixth over of the day with a delivery that kept tad low as Nissanka spooned it to short cover where Anamul Haque Bijoy held on to it nicely. Nissanka, who made 187 in the first Test, followed it with 158 off 254, smashing 19 boundaries. In his next over, Taijul unleashed a perfect arm-ball to remove Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (7) who reviewed the leg-before decision in vain, giving Bangladesh a double delight.
Night watchman Prabath Jayasuriya then edged a delivery off Nahid Rana to be dismissed for 10 as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for 45 runs as Bangladesh found hope to regain c
ontrol of the match. But Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis counterattacked right from the words go, making Bangladesh bowlers disarray.
They used the feat nicely against the spinners to play the sweep shots in precision before Nayeem Hasan produced a beauty to break the dangerous partnership that added 49 runs for the sixth wicket. Seeing Kamindu repeatedly sweeping the bowlers, he bowled a delivery, quicker than his usual pace, that went straight without turning much to rattle the stump as he made 33 off 41 with five boundaries.
Nayeem then got the scalp of Sonal Dinusha, who looked positive in a stand with Kusal Mendis, by disturbing his stump with a flighted delivery. However, Kusal kept attacking the bowlers to pace the scoreboard rapidly. The respite came for Bangladesh when he was trapped run out by trying for a second run. He hammered eight fours and two sixes for his 87-ball 84.
After his dismissal, Taijul completed his 17th fifer in Test cricket by dismissing Asitha Fernando for a duck.