Sri Lanka completed a thumping innings and 78-run victory over Bangladesh before lunch on day four of the second Test in Colombo, wrapping up the two-match series 1-0.
Resuming the day on a precarious 115-6, the visitors still trailed by 97 runs and needed a minor miracle to avoid an innings defeat.
Any hopes of a rearguard were dashed almost immediately.
Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, under the pump after a wicketless outing in the first innings, struck gold with the fifth ball of the morning as Litton Das edged behind to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis for 14.
With that scalp, the last recognised batsman was back in the hut and Bangladesh’s house of cards came tumbling down soon after, all out for 133.
It was a clinical all-round performance by hosts Sri Lanka, who walked away with crucial World Test Championship points.
None of the visiting batsmen managed to cross fifty in the match – a far cry from the first Test in Galle, which ended in a draw when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hit twin centuries.
Bangladesh had won the toss on a docile Colombo pitch but squandered the advantage, bundled out for 247.
Sri Lanka replied in commanding fashion, piling on 458 to take a hefty 211-run lead.
The foundation was laid by a masterclass from opener Pathum Nissanka, who crafted a fluent 158 – his second successive century in the series – while Dinesh Chandimal chipped in with a polished 93.
The pair added 194 runs for the second wicket, putting the game firmly in Sri Lanka’s control.
Bangladesh threatened briefly when the second new ball brought them three quick wickets, but Kusal steadied the ship with a counterattacking 84, ensuring the hosts didn’t let the momentum slip.
Nissanka, who was declared Man of the Match, said he was “very pleased with the effort”.
“It feels good to contribute. I am now the senior opener with Dimuth Karunaratne retired and I try to do my best for the team,” he said.
Bangladesh captain Shanto called it a “very disappointing game”.
“We played really well in Galle but we were not up to the mark here.
“The way we batted in the first innings is when things went wrong for us. A total of 247 was not good on this pitch.
“No harm with the decision to bat first. But the way we got out was very disappointing. One good thing was the way our bowlers kept fighting.
“That will be one positive we will take from this series.”
The two sides will now shift focus to the limited-overs leg of the tour, with three ODIs and three T20Is.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: @OfficialSLC/X
