Tea Sri Lanka 338 and 199 for 6 (Karunaratne 110*, Mustafizur 3-42) lead Bangladesh 467 by 70 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Dimuth Karunaratne scored a patient century as wickets fell around him © AFP
Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan, two of Bangladesh’s main bowlers, rose to the occasion as they combined to take five Sri Lanka wickets in the middle session, seizing the advantage even though Dimuth Karunaratne scored a fighting century. Sri Lanka were ahead by 70 runs but had only four wickets in hand at the score of 199 for 6 at tea.
The home side lost their way soon after the second session started, with Kusal Mendis caught behind for 36 after a contentious decision. Replays were not conclusive enough to suggest that he had edged Mustafizur in the 45th over, but the third umpire Marais Erasmus overturned S Ravi’s decision and Mendis walked off shaking his head.
Karunaratne struck a few more boundaries in his bid to put together a solid knock but soon Dinesh Chandimal edged Mustafizur for 5. Asela Gunaratne struggled during his 15-ball stay, before being finished off by Shakib with an arm ball that the batsman left alone, going on to hit his front pad.
There was no stopping Mustafzur as he got Dhananjaya de Silva to edge another wide one, with Mushfiqur completing the easy catch. After one more over, Mustafizur was given a rest. His spell of 7-1-24-3 changed the course of the game and pushed Sri Lanka to the edge.
Karunaratne reached his fifth Test century while Bangladesh kept the pressure at the batsmen at the other end. Niroshan Dickwella survived a very close leg-before call, with Bangladesh’s review showing even though the ball would have hit the stumps, the impact was “umpire’s call” so the decision had to stay with the on-field decision of not out. Soon, though, Mushfiqur moved swiftly to his right to complete an excellent catch after anticipating Dickwella’s sweep off Shakib.
The fourth day had started very much in Bangladesh’s favour when Mehedi Hasan bowled a peach that deviated from middle stumps, away from Upul Tharanga’s prod, to hit off stump. It was the first ball for the offspinner on the fourth morning and Bangladesh were cock-a-hoop. Mustafizur drew an early edge from Mendis that fell short before Sri Lanka finally started to find boundaries seven overs into the first session.
On 12, Mendis struck one to Imrul Kayes at forward short leg though it would qualify as a half-chance because the fielder barely had any time to react when the ball hit his leg. On 28, Mendis was involved in a big mix-up with Karunaratne but Sabbir Rahman’s throw from point missed the stumps by a distance. Sri Lanka soon took the lead just before the lunch break before Bangladesh turned things their way in the second session.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo