By Bangladesh faced a daunting task as Sri Lanka secured a comfortable 192-run victory in the second Test at Chattogram on Wednesday (April 3), completing a clean sweep in the two-match series. Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s spirited resistance with an unbeaten 81 off 110 deliveries wasn’t enough to prevent the inevitable defeat.
Sri Lanka’s dominant performance was set up by their batters, who posted a formidable total of 531 in the first innings on a batting-friendly surface. Although no player reached a century, six batsmen, including the top order, contributed with half-centuries. Nishan Madushka’s early fifty laid the foundation, followed by notable innings from Dimuth Karunaratne (86) and Kusal Mendis (93). Dinesh Chandimal (59) and Dhananjaya de Silva (70) further solidified Sri Lanka’s position.
Despite some initial promise from Bangladesh’s bowlers, they struggled to maintain consistent pressure, lacking the necessary bite. The visitors’ dominance continued as Kamindu Mendis (92*) led the charge, falling short of a century due to a lack of support from his partners.
In response, Bangladesh’s batting faltered under the pressure of a massive target, despite a promising start from Zakir Hasan (54). Asitha Fernando’s impressive spell (4-34) on the third day turned the game in Sri Lanka’s favor, triggering a collapse in Bangladesh’s batting lineup. Despite efforts from Hasan Mahmud (4-65) and Khaled Mahmud (2-34), Sri Lanka’s pacers, particularly Lahiru Kumara (4-50), remained dominant.
Series Sealed as Sri Lanka Secure Dominant Victory
With a commanding lead of 353 runs, Sri Lanka opted not to enforce the follow-on, choosing instead to further extend their advantage. Angelo Mathews (56) led the charge in the second innings, supported by Prabath Jayasuriya, as Sri Lanka declared at 157-7, setting Bangladesh a daunting target of 511.
Bangladesh showed resilience in their fourth-innings effort, with several batsmen getting starts, including Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mominul Haque. However, their inability to convert these starts into substantial scores mirrored their struggles throughout the series. Sri Lanka’s pacers continued to shine, particularly Lahiru Kumara (4-50), highlighting their dominance on pitches offering assistance to the quick bowlers.
In conclusion, Sri Lanka’s comprehensive victory underscored their superiority over Bangladesh throughout the series, with their pacers excelling on surfaces conducive to seam bowling.
