Sri Lanka's Series Win

Asitha, Mathews, Chandimal star in: Sports Asitha Fernando is congratulated by his teammates. Tags:  Print Edition

Oshada Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne played knocks of 21 and 7 as Sri Lanka chased down target of 29 in just three overs to defeat Bangladesh by ten wickets in the second Test at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka to win the two-match series 1-0 on Friday.

Earlier, Asitha Fernando scalped six wickets for Sri Lanka in the second innings to bundle out Bangladesh for 169. Shakib Al Hasan top-scored for Bangladesh with 58, while Liton Das scored 52.

After the visitors took a first innings lead of 141, the hosts lost four wickets in the final session on Day 4, and were reeling at 34 for four. Asitha Fernando had struck early for Sri Lanka, dismissing Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudul Hasan Joy in quick succession. In between Tamim and Hasan’s dismissal, Bangladesh also lost the wickets of Najmul Hussain Shanto and skipper Mominul Haque.

Asitha’s searing post-lunch spell burst through Bangladesh’s defiant middle order, then swiftly uprooted the tail, to thrust Sri Lanka toward victory, which they achieved by 10 wickets in Mirpur. Envenomed by reverse swing, Asitha engineered a collapse that saw the last five Bangladesh wickets fall for 13 runs in the space of eight overs.

He took 6 for 51 for the innings – easily the best innings return of his five-Test career. As he had claimed four wickets in the first innings as well, he took 10 for 141 from the match. This is his first 10-wicket haul.

Following Asitha’s burst, Sri Lanka needed only 29 in the fourth innings. Oshada Fernando struck a nine-ball 21 to complete the win inside three overs.

Bangladesh had defied Sri Lanka through a 103-run stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das, but of course were battling a 141-run first-innings deficit, and already suffered a top-order collapse. In the end, all a partnership of even this quality could do was stave off an innings defeat. Shakib was the aggressor through this partnership, reeling off seven boundaries in a 72-ball 58. Litton made 52 off 135.

And it was Asitha’s dismissal of these two batters that essentially secured Sri Lanka’s victory. He dived hard to his right in his follow through to intercept a low chance from Litton. The wicket of Shakib soon after was more impressive. Having delivered excellent bouncers right through the series, he rushed Shakib into a hook shot, with the ball ballooning up off the batter’s gloves, to the wicketkeeper. He then got Taijul Islam lbw with a full, reverse-swinging delivery, and knocked back Khaled Ahmed’s middle stump to end Bangladesh’s innings.

At the other end, Ramesh Mendis spun one into the pads of Mosaddek Hossain, who missed a lap sweep and was ajudged lbw. This was the only wicket the Sri Lanka spinners claimed throughout the whole match. Asitha and Kasun Rajitha, who removed the dangerous Mushfiqur Rahim earlier in the day, claimed 17 wickets between them.

(Agencies)

Saturday, May 28, 2022 – 01:00