Sri Lanka Crush Bangladesh to Clinch Test Series

AFP/APP

Colombo: Sri Lanka sealed a commanding innings and 78-run victory over Bangladesh before lunch on day four of the second Test in Colombo, clinching the two-match series 1-0.

Resuming the day at a precarious 115 for six, Bangladesh still trailed by 97 runs and needed a miraculous turnaround to avoid defeat. However, hopes of a fightback were extinguished early when left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who went wicketless in the first innings, struck with the fifth ball of the morning — dismissing Litton Das for 14, caught behind by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.

With Das’s departure, Bangladesh’s resistance crumbled swiftly. The visitors failed to recover as Sri Lanka completed a clinical all-round performance, collecting valuable World Test Championship points.

The result marked a sharp contrast to the drawn first Test in Galle on June 21, where Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had scored twin centuries. In the second Test, however, no Bangladeshi batter managed to reach fifty.

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After winning the toss and opting to bat on a seemingly placid pitch, Bangladesh were bundled out for 247 in the first innings. In response, Sri Lanka asserted dominance with a massive total of 458, taking a 211-run lead.

The foundation of Sri Lanka’s innings was laid by opener Pathum Nissanka, who struck a fluent 158 — his second consecutive century in the series. Dinesh Chandimal added a polished 93, and together, the duo shared a 194-run stand for the second wicket.

Though Bangladesh managed to briefly rattle the hosts with three quick wickets using the second new ball, Kusal Mendis’s counterattacking 84 helped Sri Lanka regain control and tighten their grip on the match.

With the Test series concluded, both teams will now turn their attention to the limited-overs leg of the tour, featuring three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals.