Publications
Partners
Colombo - Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath picked up two wickets in two balls to give Sri Lanka a fighting chance in the second Test against Bangladesh in Colombo on Sunday.
The hosts reduced Bangladesh to 38 for two at lunch on the fifth day after setting a target of 191 runs, thanks to a dogged half-century by Dilruwan Perera in an 80-run partnership with Suranga Lakmal.
Bangladesh still need 153 runs with eight wickets in hand to celebrate their 100th Test match with a win and square the two-match series 1-1 after going down by 259 runs in the first Test in Galle.
Herath picked up his first wicket when opener Soumya Sarkar, charging down the pitch, was deceived by a turn and lofted a catch to Upul Tharanga at mid-off for 10.
Imrul Kayes edged the next ball to slip fielder Asela Gunaratne for a duck before Tamim Iqbal, 22 not out, and Sabbir Rahman, six not out, got safely through to lunch.
Perera and Lakmal earlier frustrated Bangladesh for more than an hour as Sri Lanka added 51 runs to their overnight 268 for eight before finishing up for 319 in their second innings.
Perera hit his fourth Test fifty off 174 balls while tail-ender Lakmal smashed 42 off 48 balls to give Sri Lanka's attack something to bowl at.
The duo shared 80 runs for the ninth wicket before Bangladesh separated them through a run out.
Perera tried to take a single after Subashis Roy fumbled at short-leg but the fielder managed to return the ball to bowler Mehedi Hasan in time to break the stumps with the Sri Lankan batsman just short of his ground.
Shakib Al Hasan removed Lakmal in the next over to end the Sri Lankan innings and finish with four for 74.
