COLOMBO – Bangladesh suffered a crushing innings and 78-run defeat to Sri Lanka on day four of the second Test in Colombo, bringing the two-match series to a disappointing end for the visitors, who were thoroughly outplayed in all departments. The result gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 series win and valuable points in the ICC World Test Championship.
Starting the day on a fragile 115-6, Bangladesh trailed by 97 runs and were staring down the barrel of an innings defeat. Despite hopes of a resilient fightback, their innings crumbled in under an hour on Saturday morning, with the team being bowled out for a meagre 133.
The day began with some glimmer of hope for Bangladesh fans, but that quickly faded. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who had gone wicketless in the first innings, wasted no time in turning things around. With just the fifth ball of the morning, he removed Litton Das for 14, caught behind by Kusal Mendis.
That wicket opened the floodgates. With Litton gone, the last recognised batter, Bangladesh’s tail folded quickly under relentless pressure from Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack. Jayasuriya, who finished with 5 for 56, ran through the lower order to complete a dominant performance.
Unlike the first Test in Galle, where Bangladesh had shown significant fight, including twin centuries from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, their batting lineup faltered in Colombo. None of the batters managed to register a half-century in the second Test, highlighting their inability to cope with Sri Lanka’s bowling on a relatively docile pitch.
Bangladesh had earlier won the toss and chosen to bat first on what appeared to be a good surface at the P. Sara Oval. However, their top and middle order failed to build partnerships, leading to a first-innings total of just 247. In contrast, Sri Lanka responded emphatically with a mammoth 458, gaining a crucial 211-run lead.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Brilliance Seals the Game
The platform for Sri Lanka’s massive total was laid by Pathum Nissanka, who scored a sublime 158, following up his century in the first Test. Nissanka, now stepping into a senior role after Dimuth Karunaratne’s retirement, showed maturity and class as he anchored the innings with confidence.
He was ably supported by Dinesh Chandimal, who crafted a composed 93, and Kusal Mendis, who played a counterattacking knock of 84 after a mini-collapse when the second new ball was taken.
The trio’s combined effort left Bangladesh chasing the game from there on. Nissanka, who was deservedly named Player of the Match, said,
“It feels good to contribute. I am now the senior opener, and I try to do my best for the team. This win gives us great momentum.”
Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh captain, expressed disappointment at how his side failed to capitalise on their start.
“It was a very disappointing game. We played really well in Galle but fell short here. The way we batted in the first innings set the tone, and unfortunately, 247 wasn’t a competitive score on this pitch,” Shanto said.
“There was nothing wrong with the decision to bat first, but the shot selection and lack of partnerships cost us. One positive was how our bowlers kept fighting, especially Taijul Islam, who took 5 for 131. That’s what we’ll take into the limited-overs leg.”
With the Test series now concluded, Bangladesh will shift their focus to the white-ball formats. The tour continues with three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) followed by three T20 Internationals, where the visitors will hope to bounce back and end the tour on a more positive note.
Match Summary:
- Bangladesh First Innings: 247 all out in 79.3 overs
(Shadman Islam 46, Mushfiqur Rahim 35; Sonal Dinusha 3-22, Asitha Fernando 3-51) - Sri Lanka First Innings: 458 all out in 116.5 overs
(Pathum Nissanka 158, Dinesh Chandimal 93, Kusal Mendis 84; Taijul Islam 5-131) - Bangladesh Second Innings: 133 all out in 44.2 overs
(Mushfiqur Rahim 26; Prabath Jayasuriya 5-56) - Result: Sri Lanka won by an innings and 78 runs
Bangladesh will need to regroup quickly as they face another stern test in the upcoming limited-overs series. Whether they can recover from this heavy defeat remains to be seen, but the pressure is now firmly on the team to deliver better performances.
Source- EWN
