Bangladesh fold under Jayasuriya’s spell, SL win by an innings and 78 runs

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya scalped his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket to propel Sri Lanka to a resounding victory over Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs in the second Test, sealing a 1-0 triumph in the two-match series.

Resuming on the fourth morning precariously placed at 115 for six, still 97 runs adrift of making Sri Lanka bat again, Bangladesh’s resistance crumbled in under half an hour. Jayasuriya ruthlessly dismantled the lower order, snaring three of the final four wickets at the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The visitors were bundled out for 133 in their second innings, following their first-innings effort of 247, falling well short of forcing Sri Lanka to bat again.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had laid the foundation for this emphatic win with a formidable first-innings total of 458, built around a superb century by opener Pathum Nissanka, who was later adjudged both Player of the Match and Player of the Series. Nissanka’s composure at the top was complemented by valuable contributions from Dinesh Chandimal (93) and Kusal Mendis (84), ensuring the hosts seized control from the outset.

On the final morning, it didn’t take long for Jayasuriya to strike. With just a run added to the overnight score, Litton Das (14) edged a sharp turner to wicketkeeper Mendis. Jayasuriya then tempted Nayeem Hasan (5) into an ill-judged drive, resulting in a smart stumping by Mendis. The spinner completed his five-wicket haul by grabbing a return catch to dismiss Taijul Islam (6). Off-spinner Tharindu Rathnayake applied the finishing touch, trapping Ebadot Hossain (6) leg-before to seal the contest.

Jayasuriya ended with figures of 5 for 56, underlining his stature as Sri Lanka’s premier spinner. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Rathnayake chipped in with two wickets apiece to complete a thoroughly professional bowling display.

Reflecting on the triumph, de Silva lauded the collective effort. “Bowlers and batters did well in the first innings here. Bowlers had their plans and executed well. That`s a good morale booster for us, losing the toss and putting the opposition under pressure.” He also reserved special praise for Nissanka, saying, “He`s been performing in all three formats for a long time and I think he will continue to do that.”

Meanwhile, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto conceded that his team’s batting left much to be desired. “We had opportunities but we couldn`t make those things happen,” he admitted. “The wicket is a little slower but the way we got out was not good enough. We always took easy options and made mistakes while batting.”

(With AP inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day