Sri Lanka clinches the series against Bangladesh in the second Test, securing a convincing victory.
Colombo: Sri Lanka Crushes Bangladesh in Convincing Innings Victory
Sri Lanka showcased their supremacy in the second Test against Bangladesh at Colombo (SSC), finishing off with a thumping innings and 78-run victory, clinching the two-match series 1-0.
Resuming the day on fragile 115/6, Bangladesh was in dire need of a miracle to escape an innings defeat, but hopes dissipated quickly. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took victims just five balls into the day, removing Litton Das for 14. This dismissal signaled the beginning of the end for Bangladesh's resistance.
With Das's fall, the remaining recognized batter was back in the pavilion, and Bangladesh's brittle batting lineup soon collapsed. Kusal Mendis oversaw a clinical performance by Sri Lanka, bagging crucial World Test Championship points in the process.
Sri Lanka, now moving focus to the limited-overs portion of the tour, will play three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals after the conclusion of the Test series.
In the second Test, none of the visiting batsmen reached fifty - a stark contrast from their first Test effort in Galle, which resulted in a draw on June 21, where captain Najmul Hossain Shanto secured twin centuries.
Bangladesh won the toss on a placid pitch but squandered the advantage, eventually being bowled out for 247. Sri Lanka countered with an impressive 458, gaining a colossal 211-run lead after the first innings.
The groundwork was laid by Pathum Nissanka's masterful 158, Dinesh Chandimal's 93, and Kusal Mendis's fiery 84. This strong start ensured the match was already in Sri Lanka's control.
Bangladesh threatened briefly when the second new ball was introduced, but Mendis steered the ship, preventing the hosts from losing momentum during their second innings.
The visitors could manage only 133 in their second attempt, with Mushfiqur Rahim being the top scorer with 26. Sri Lanka's bowling was led by Jayasuriya's five-wicket haul, while Asitha Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva supported well with key wickets.
In summary, it was a comprehensive victory for Sri Lanka thanks to outstanding performances from Nissanka, Chandimal, and Mendis, combined with potent bowling from Jayasuriya, de Silva, and Fernando. The series ended with Sri Lanka's residual dominance, demonstrating their superiority in home conditions against Bangladesh.
Gold shone brightly for Sri Lanka in their victory over Bangladesh, as momentum carried over from their impressive batting performance in the first innings. Kusal Mendis, in particular, showed his worth with both his bat (crucial World Test Championship points) and gloves (preventing Bangladesh from building a strong second innings). As the Test series transitioned into limited-overs matches, the spotlight shifts to Sri Lanka's gold in the shorter formats, just as the gold medal for the 2022 World Test Championship appears within reach for them.
