COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Two wickets in two balls by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath in the last half-hour of play on the third day tilted the balance of the second test towards Sri Lanka yesterday.
By stumps Bangladesh, who trailed Sri Lanka by 106 after the first innings, were 158 for four wickets – an overall lead of 52.
Mominul Haque scored an attractive half-century in the first innings and was unbeaten on 36 second time around with Mushfiqur Rahim on seven.
Both batsmen would have been out before the close had the Sri Lankan fielders been sharper.
Mominul was put down at mid-on by Nuwan Kulasekara when he was on 30 and Angelo Mathews missed Mushfiqur at slip also off Herath, who ended the day with figures of three for 45.
“It would have been brilliant to have them five down,” said Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara. “We had the opportunities, though a close decision also didn’t go our way towards the end.
“We’ve got ourselves to blame, one was quite an easy chance and one not so easy.”
Mohammad Ashraful became Herath’s first victim when he was bowled for four by a quicker delivery in the second over after tea when his off stump was sent tumbling.
A stand of 47 followed between Jahurul Islam and Mominul that carried Bangladesh to 143-2 before Herath struck twice in his 19th over.
He changed the complexion of the game by having Jahurul stumped by Dinesh Chandimal for 48 when the batsman lost his patience and charged up the wicket.
