Innings Sri Lanka 338 and 319 (Karunaratne 126, Shakib 4-74) lead Bangladesh 467 (Shakib 116, Herath 4-82) by 190 runs
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Dilruwan Perera’s fifty carried Sri Lanka’s lead to 190 © AFP
A fine mix of rearguard and attacking shots from Dilruwan Perera and Suranga Lakmal gave Sri Lanka a chance to pull off a come-from-behind win in the Colombo Test. They were bowled out for 319 in the second innings, setting Bangladesh 191 runs to level the series.
A draw is almost out of the equation in this contest. It will be a shootout between a team that has floundered twice this year on the fifth day against Rangana Herath, the bowler who has the most five-fors in the fourth innings of a Test.
The ninth-wicket stand was extended to 80 runs with Perera reaching a second successive fifty while Lakmal made 42 off 48 balls with four boundaries. There were few close calls on the fifth morning, but they survived to frustrate Bangladesh.
Perera was finally run-out after he tried to sneak a single off a Subashis Roy misfield, before Lakmal holed out at long-off, giving Shakib Al Hasan his fourth wicket.
On the fourth day, Sri Lanka had a good first session in which they lost one wicket for 83 runs but it was the second session that gave Bangladesh the upper hand. The home side lost 5 for 62 in 26 overs before Dilruwan Perera held the visitors at bay in the final session.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo