COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, 23 September 2005 — Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by an innings 69 runs to complete a 2-0 series win on the third day of the second Test yesterday.
Sri Lanka won the first Test by an innings and 96 runs and Bangladesh have now lost their last four Test matches before lunch on the third morning.
Bangladesh resumed on 131-4 — still trailing by 135 runs — and were bowled out for 197 in 60.4 overs. Left-arm swing bowler Chaminda Vaas made the early breakthroughs in a skilful opening burst, swinging the ball both ways to finish with 3-36 from 13 overs. Mohammad Ashraful (26) edged an outswinger low to Thilan Samaraweera at first slip and nightwatchman Shahadat Hossain was bowled after offering no stroke to an inswinger.
The Sri Lankan spinners wrapped up victory with left-armer Rangana Herath claiming 3-52 and off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan finishing with 2-28.
The only partnership of substance on the final morning was between middle order batsman Aftab Ahmed (25) and Khaled Mashud (18), who added 33 runs.
Herath ended the stand as Ahmed edged to slip and Muralitharan, bowling from around the wicket, pinned Mashud lbw.
Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said: “We had a chance to dismiss them for less than 250 but (Tillakaratne) Dilshan and (Thilan) Samaraweera batted really well and their first innings score (457-9 declared) was a bit too many in the end.
“We then needed to score big runs at the top of the order but despite some players getting good starts that didn’t happen.
“The only positive was the two new ball bowlers (Syed) Rasel and Hossain who bowled really well on a really flat track.” Dilshan was named Man of the Series for his 86 and 168 in the two Tests. Samaraweera was named Man of the Match after his 138 that rescued Sri Lanka after collapsing to 48-4. “We have a tremendous amount of cricket coming up in the next six months and it was important to maintain the momentum in this series,” Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu said.
