By the Morning Sports Desk
[caption id="attachment_133502" align="alignleft" width="344"]
Tamim Iqbal is gone. Another wicket for the new Lankan spinner Ramesh Mendis. Photo SLC[/caption]
FLASH:
Bangladesh lost two more wickets and were 207/7, just 14 overs into fifth day morning on Monday (3).
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Despite a five-wicket haul from Taijul Islam of the visiting Bangladesh, Sri Lanka are in the driver’s seat, heading into an exciting final day’s play today, when the home team spin duo of Ramesh Mendis and Praveen Jayawickrama will require five wickets to win at Pallekele.
Sri Lanka added 155 runs in the first session thanks to Dimuth Karunaratne’s 66, backed by Dhananjaya de Silva’s 41, before the hosts declared at 194/9, setting a huge target of 437 for Bangladesh to chase.
Chasing a mammoth total, the Bangladesh openers got off to a quick start, adding 31 runs within the first seven overs.
They looked to be well-settled as they attacked the Lankan bowlers, setting up a threatening opening stand which was broken by Mendis after he drew an edge from Tamim Iqbal, finding Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps.
Saif Hassan and Najmul Shanto continued the innings with an intent to attack. However, this proved to be their undoing as Praveen Jayawickrama carried on with his dream debut dealing a double blow, removing Saif for 34 and then, going through the gates of Najmul, before bad light forced an early end to day’s play.
The hosts now require just five wickets for a win while Bangladesh have a tough ask of scoring 266 more runs when the play will resume today.
After tea, Bangladesh attempted to rebuild the innings with Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim putting on a 30-run stand before Mendis broke the partnership.
Mushfiqur and Liton Das then led the chase for the visitors. Rahim opted for an aggressive approach while Das was more conservative. The pair looked to be in good touch before Mendis put an end to the threatening partnership, sending Mushfiqur to the pavilion for 40.
Bangladesh finished the day with Mehidy Hasan and Liton Das at the crease, when bad light and then light rain forced early stumps.
The hosts now require just five wickets for a win while Bangladesh have a tough ask of scoring 266 more runs
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka 1st innings 493/7 dec
Bangladesh 1st innings 251
Sri Lanka 2nd innings (o/n 17/2 in 7 overs)
Lahiru Thirimanne c Shanto b Hasan 2
Dimuth Karunaratne (Capt.) c Sub. b Hassan 66
Oshada Fernando st Das b Islam 1
Angelo Mathews c Sub. b Islam 12
Dhananjaya de Silva c Shanto b Hasan 41
Pathum Nissanka c Islam b Islam 24
Niroshan Dickwella (wk) c Islam b Ahmed 24
Ramesh Mendis c Iqbal b Islam 8
Suranga Lakmal b Islam 12
Praveen Jayawickrama not out 3
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (for 9 wickets, 42.2 overs) 194
Did not bat: Vishwa Fernando
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Thirimanne, 2.2 ov), 2-15 (Fernando, 3.1 ov), 3-39 (Mathews, 13.3 ov), 4-112 (Karunaratne, 26.6 ov), 5-124 (de Silva, 29.4 ov), 6-162 (Nissanka, 36.6 ov), 7-178 (Dickwella, 39.5 ov), 8-180 (Mendis, 40.5 ov), 9-194 (Lakmal, 42.2 ov)
Bowling: Mehidy Hasan 14-3-66-2, Shoriful Islam 1-0-8-0, Taijul Islam 19.2-2-72-5 (1nb), Taskin Ahmed 4-0-26-1, Saif Hassan 4-0-22-1
Bangladesh 2nd innings (target 437)
Tamim Iqbal c Dickwella b Mendis 24
Saif Hassan c Lakmal b Jayawickrama 34
Najmul H. Shanto b Jayawickrama 26
Mominul Haque (Capt.) b Mendis 32
Mushfiqur Rahim c de Silva b Mendis 40
Liton Das (wk) not out 14
Mehidy Hasan not out 4
Extras (b 3) 3
Total (for 5 wickets, 48 overs) 177
Did not bat: Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Abu Jayed
Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Iqbal, 7.1 ov), 2-73 (Hassan, 16.4 ov), 3-104 (Shanto, 22.5 ov), 4-134 (Haque, 31.6 ov), 5-171 (Rahim, 41.4 ov)
Sri Lanka: Suranga Lakmal 4-2-14-0, Ramesh Mendis 20-0-86-3, Praveen Jayawickrama 20-5-58-2, Dhananjaya de Silva 4-0-16-0