| Scorecard: | Sri Lanka v Bangladesh |
| Event: | Bangladesh in Sri Lanka 2005/06 |
Dilhara Fernando led a pack of sharp Sri Lankan pacemen to push cricketing minnows Bangladesh closer to defeat in the second and final Test here on Wednesday.
Trailing by 266 runs, Bangladesh were struggling at 131-4 in their second innings at stumps on the second day. Mohammad Ashraful was batting on 21 with nightwatchman Shahadat Hossain.
Sri Lanka's fast bowlers claimed 10 of the 14 Bangladeshi wickets that fell on the day with Fernando exposing the tourists' batting limitations with seven wickets.
Fernando bagged 5-60 in the first innings and 2-25 in the second to finish the day with 7-85, his best figures in 18 Tests. It was the fist time he had bagged five wickets in an innings.
Lasith Malinga took two first-innings wickets with his slinging action, while left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas chipped in with one in the second.
Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took 3-47 as Bangladesh were shot out for 191 in their first innings in reply to the hosts' 457-9 declared.
He claimed one more in the second when well-set Shahriar Nafees was caught by Thilan Samaraweera at first slip. Nafees, playing only his second Test, top-scored with 51.
Sri Lanka's bowlers were smartly backed by wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara, who had a hand in five dismissals in the first innings.
Bangladesh, who lost the opening Test by an innings and 96 runs, yet again put in a feeble performance as none of their batsmen showed the application needed to play a long innings.
The tourists' hopes of defying the Sri Lankan attack in the first innings were dashed after key batsmen Habibul Bashar and Ashraful fell to rash shots.
Bashar contributed just 18 before pulling Fernando to Vaas, who pulled off a diving catch at deep square-leg.
Ashraful also played one shot too many. He struck one six and three fours in one over from Fernando before being deceived by a slower delivery from the same bowler.
The Bangladeshi batsman tried to hit over the top, but his mistimed shot went to skipper Marvan Atapattu at mid-on. He hit two sixes and five fours in his exciting 41-ball 42.
Bangladesh could never recover after Fernando's three-wicket burst in the morning session.
The paceman continued to trouble the tourists with his pace and movement and claimed his fifth victim when he had Aftab Ahmed (23) caught behind.
Sri Lanka earlier added eight runs to their overnight total of 449-7 before declaring.
Pacemen Syed Rasel and Hossain each finished with four wickets.
(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)