Sri Lanka win Test series by 1-0 over Bangladesh
Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama became the first Sri Lankan to complete a 10-wicket haul on debut as the hosts sealed a whopping 209-run victory against visiting Bangladesh on the final day of their second and final Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Monday.
In chase of a mammoth 437-run target, Bangladesh were bundled out for just 227 in their second innings. The win also meant that the Lankans won the series 1-0 after drawing the first match which was also played at the same venue.
The win was sealed when Jayawickrama trapped in front Abu Jayed to pick up his 11th wicket in the game.
The left-arm spinner once again followed up a sharp turning ball with the one that went on with the arm as it hit Jayed on his pads. Bangladesh players reviewed -- as they had to -- but that did not stop the inevitable from happening.
Earlier, Bangladesh resumed the day struggling on 177 for five but the visitors failed to even make it to Lunch as they fell prey to the spin web of Jayawickrama, Ramesh Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva.
Jayawickrama started with the wicket of Liton Das (17 off 46) early in the morning before Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed delayed the inevitable defeat for Tigers by negotiating 30 and 33 balls respectively in the middle. However, their luck eventually ran out with Taijul falling prey to Dhananjaya and Taskin getting caught off a Mendis delivery.
Jayawickrama, who yesterday scalped two wickets, completed his fifer in the second innings as he wrapped it with the wickets of overnight batsman Mehedi Hasan Miraz (39 off 86) and Jayed (0 off 3) in the final of the game today.
The 22-year-old Jayawickrama, who had picked six wickets in the first innings, ended with match figures of 178 for 11.
For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored for the side with 40 off 63 in the second innings as Tigers lost wickets at regular intervals trying to score quick runs against Sri Lankan spinners who were getting enough turn and bounce off the pitch at Pallekele.
Bangladesh lost overnight batsman Liton Das early in the morning as Sri Lanka get closer to a massive victory, which will ensure a series win for the hosts, on the final day of their second and final Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy today.
Tigers, who are chasing a mammoth 437-run target, resumed the day struggling on 177 for five with the last recognized batting pair of Liton and Mehedi Hasan Miraz.
However, with less than 3 overs bowled on the day, Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama picked up the wicket of Liton when he set up the batsman for an LBW. After beating the outside edge of Liton's bat the previous ball, Jayawickrama followed it up with a straighter delivery that went in with the arm and struck Liton on his pads after pitching on a good length.
Tigers opted for a review but the ball tracking showed that it would have gone on to hot leg stump and Liton had to walk back after a 46-ball 17.
It is just a matter of survival for Bangladesh as Sri Lanka require just four wickets to seal a victory while the Tigers still need 233 runs to win. Bangladesh scored 204 for six after 58 overs with Miraz unbeaten on 25 and Taijul on 1.
Bangladesh's attacking approach with the bat yesterday had cost them wickets of their five top-order batsmen as the pitch offered plenty of turn and bounce to spinners.
