In the second match of the Test series, Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs, winning the two-match series 1-0. The first Test match was drawn, where Bangladesh had a chance to win at one point, but they couldn't capitalize on it.
Sports News: Sri Lanka, in the second and decisive Test played on their home soil, handed a crushing defeat to Bangladesh, proving why they are considered a b contender in Test cricket in Asia. In this match played at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the home team defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs, winning the two-match Test series 1-0. The first Test was a draw, but in the second match, the Sri Lankan players came onto the field fully prepared, not allowing Bangladesh to have any say.
Bangladesh's Failure in the First Innings
The Bangladeshi team, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, did not have a good start. The opening batsmen could not stay for long, and the team kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Shadman Islam showed some fight, scoring 46 runs, but apart from him, no other player could play a long innings on the crease. Liton Das scored 34, Mushfiqur Rahim scored 35, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed 31 runs. The entire team was bundled out for 247 runs in the first innings.
From Sri Lanka's side, Asitha Fernando and Sonal Dinusha took three wickets each, pushing Bangladesh onto the backfoot. Vishwa Fernando took two wickets, while captain Dhananjaya de Silva and spinner Tharindu Ratnayake took one wicket each.
Nissanka's Century Leads to Sri Lanka's Huge Score
In response to Bangladesh's first innings, Sri Lanka batted very bly. Opener Pathum Nissanka played a brilliant innings of 158 runs, breaking the backs of the Bangladeshi bowlers. Nissanka's innings included 19 fours, and he displayed the best of his technique and composure. Besides, Dinesh Chandimal played a powerful innings of 93 runs, and his century was missed by a very narrow margin.
Kusal Mendis also scored 84 runs, while Lahiru Udara (40) and Kamindu Mendis (33) made significant contributions. The entire team was all out after scoring 458 runs and took a massive lead of 211 runs in the first innings itself. From Bangladesh's side, Taijul Islam took five wickets, but the other bowlers could not make much of an impact.
Bangladesh's Inability to Perform in the Follow-On
After trailing by 211 runs, the Bangladesh team could not overcome the mental pressure in the second innings. The entire team was bundled out for just 133 runs, and the match ended on the fourth day itself. Mushfiqur Rahim made a little effort with 26 runs, but no batsman could cross the 20-run mark. From Sri Lanka's side, spinner Prabath Jayasuriya dominated this innings and took five wickets, ensuring Bangladesh's defeat. Dhananjaya de Silva and Tharindu Ratnayake took two wickets each, while Asitha Fernando got one wicket.
Pathum Nissanka was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his superb century and the 'Player of the Series' award for his consistently impressive performance. Nissanka, by scoring a century in the second consecutive Test, proved himself to be a reliable batsman for Sri Lanka.
