SL vs BAN | Sri Lanka inch closer to victory despite Bangladesh’s fightback with ball

‌Sri Lanka strengthened their position against Bangladesh at the end of day three’s play in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday. The Lankans reduced Bangladesh to 115/6 when stumps were called with the visitors still needing 96 runs to make the home side bat again. Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 458 before getting bowled out in the second session to stretch their lead to a formidable 211 runs.

Starting the day at a dominant 290/2, overnight centurion Pathum Nissanka went past the 150-run mark before being dismissed by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam for 158. They lost three more wickets in the first session but managed to score 111 runs from 25 overs to go into lunch at 401/6. Wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis extended the home side’s advantage in the post-lunch session with his 87-ball 84, which included eight fours and two sixes as Sri Lanka went past 450 before being bowled out. For the visitors, Taijul finished as the most successful bowler picking up 5/131, his 17th five-wicket haul in Tests, while offie Nayeem Hasan had three wickets to his name.

With more than 200 runs in arrears, Bangladesh started on a positive note before both openers Shadman Islam and Anamul Haque departed in the space of three deliveries on either side of tea with the score reading 31. The pattern continued as the left-handed duo of Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto also threw away their wickets after playing 33 and 48 balls, respectively. In-form batter Mushfiqur Rahim was the next to leave as he was castled by left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya after his cautious stay at the crease earned him 26 off 53 balls. Sri Lanka ended the day in perfect fashion as they got the wicket of Bangladesh's new ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the last over of the day. The visitors’ sloppy batting performance for the second time in the match saw them end the day at 115/6, still 96 away, with Litton Das being the only specialist batter at the crease. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva ended with a spell of 2/13 while Jayasuriya also picked up two wickets for Sri Lanka.

Interesting

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh

Day 3

Bangladesh trail by 96 runs with 4 wkts left

Bangladesh 247 & 115-6

De Silva 2/13

Jayasuruya 2/47

SL 458

Nissanka 158 Mendis 84

Chandimal 93 Udara 40

Islam 5/131 Hasan 3/87

— Nanda Kumar (@NandaKu53991398) 

Mid off

This Sri Lanka v Bangladesh mid-off is the one

— كن لا يزال (@LumeNje) 

Good one

Sri Lanka ODI Squad against Bangladesh  

— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) 

Big one

Sri Lanka posts 458 in first innings 🏏

Pathum Nissanka shines with a superb 158, Dinesh Chandimal scores 93, and Kusal Mendis smashes a quick 84.Lahiru Udara adds a steady 40 on debut. Taijul Islam takes 3 wickets for Bangladesh    

— Cricket -e- swag (@SunilManda507) 

Tea time

Tea on Day 3 🍵

Bangladesh 31/1 (6.5) in 2nd innings, trail Sri Lanka by 180 runs.

SL posted 458 after bowling BAN out for 247 in the first innings.



A. Fernando already strikes early! 🔥

Can Bangladesh fight back? 🏏   

— Ali Aman (@AliamanIam) 

Walking wicket

Bangladesh's walking wicket of the series, walks away one final time in Sri Lanka.



Hope to see Bijoy in the Ireland series later this year.

— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) 

Real Challenge

Some real challenge for Bangladesh from Sri Lanka! 

— Ravi Raushan Singh (@ravi03xs) 

8th time

Sri Lanka take a 211-run lead on Day 3! 🇱🇰

It’s the 8th time they’ve secured a 200+ first-innings lead vs Bangladesh — the most against any opponent. 💪   

— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk) 

WOW

Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka scored 150 runs in the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh at SSC Grounds, Colombo, today (27).

— Pulse Today (@pulse_today) 

Strong

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka lead by 154 runs at Lunch on Day 3!



A strong morning for Bangladesh, but Sri Lanka still ahead.



Plenty to play for in this gripping Test!    

— ARV Loshan Sports (@ARVLoshanSports)