Sri Lanka’s spinners, led by Prabath Jayasuriya and Kamindu Mendis, put Bangladesh on the brink of defeat as they claimed seven wickets on day four of the second Test match in Chattogram. With Bangladesh struggling at 268 for 7, trailing by 243 runs, Sri Lanka is poised for a series sweep with just one day remaining.
Despite Bangladesh’s efforts to thwart Sri Lanka’s attack, they could only manage pockets of resistance throughout the day. Mominul Haque stood out with a half-century, but apart from him and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, no other batsman could make a significant contribution. The highest partnership of the innings was the 61 runs added by Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan for the fifth wicket.
Spin emerged as a potent weapon for Sri Lanka, even though the pitch didn’t offer extravagant turn. However, the Sri Lankan spinners maintained their patience and consistently posed challenging questions to the Bangladeshi batsmen. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva’s tactical decisions, including keeping close fielders and trying unconventional bowling lines, paid off as Bangladesh struggled to build substantial partnerships.
Jayasuriya and Kumara claimed two wickets each, while Vishwa Fernando and Kamindu Mendis also chipped in with crucial breakthroughs. Mendis, in particular, impressed with his off-spin, claiming the prized wickets of Shakib Al Hasan and Shahadat Hossain. The unexpected success of Mendis added to Sri Lanka’s dominance, leaving Bangladesh reeling.
Earlier in the day, Angelo Mathews provided the final flourish to Sri Lanka’s innings with a half-century. Sri Lanka batted aggressively to extend their lead beyond 500 before declaring, leaving Bangladesh with a daunting target to chase.
Despite Bangladesh’s resilience, the odds are heavily stacked against them heading into the final day. With 243 runs needed for victory and just two recognized batsmen at the crease, Bangladesh’s hopes of salvaging a draw seem slim. Barring a miraculous turnaround or intervention from the weather, Sri Lanka appears destined to clinch a comprehensive series victory.
As the final day approaches, all eyes will be on whether Bangladesh can summon one last stand to deny Sri Lanka the series sweep or if Sri Lanka’s spinners will complete their dominance and seal victory for their team.
