Sri Lanka didn't take much time to complete the formalities on the final day of the second Test against Bangladesh, registering a convincing 209 runs victory to win the series 1-0. Sri Lanka were smelling victory by the end of day 4 and made sure that they finished off proceedings early on day 5.
With 5 wickets already down, Bangladesh needed to bat out of their skin to harbour hopes of getting anywhere close to the target. However, nothing of that sort transpired as the two spinners Ramesh Mendis and debutant Praveen Jayawickrama ran through the Bangladesh lower order.
Bangladesh began the final day’s play on 177/5 with still 260 more runs to win the encounter. Liton Das was the first man dismissed in the day’s play as he was trapped in front of a slider from Jayawickrama.
The slow left-arm spinner bagged his second five-wicket haul of the match to finish with a 10 wicket haul in the game. Taijul Islam was the next man dismissed and this time it was Dhananjaya de Silva who bagged the wicket.
Seven wickets down and Sri Lanka looked like finishing off the match in quick time. A brief 21 runs partnership between Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan defied the Sri Lankan bowlers for a few overs but the inevitable was always on the cards.
The last three wickets fell without any more addition to the score as Bangladesh were skittled out for 227 in 71 overs, thus handing a 209 victory to the Islanders. While Mendis bagged four and Jayawickrama snapped up 5 wickets yet again.
Brief Scores
Sri Lanka 1st innings- 493/7 dec (Lahiru Thirimanne 140, Dimuth Karunaratne 118, Taskin Ahmed 4/127)
Bangladesh 1st innings- 251 all-out (Tamim Iqbal 92, Praveen Jayawickrama 6/92)
Sri Lanka 2nd innings- 194/9 dec (Dimuth Karunaratne 66, Taijul Islam 5/72)
Bangladesh 2nd innings- 227 all-out (Mushfiqur Rahim 40, Praveen Jayawickrama 5/86)
Sri Lanka won by 209 runs