DHAKA, April 1, 2024 (BSS)—Bangladesh were left at a knife-edge of a defeat in the second and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka despite the bowlers waged a battle at late afternoon on Day 3 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.

The abysmal batting show in the first innings was instrumental in leaving Bangladesh at jeopardized state indeed. 

The batting vulnerability was key in failing to get past 200 for the third straight time in the series as Bangladesh were bundled out for 178 in the first innings, conceding a huge 353 runs.

Sri Lanka which posted a massive 531 in the first innings, could enforce a follow-on but they chose to bat first.

However despite a collapse, they reached 102-6 at stumps, extending the overall lead to 455, which already left Bangladesh a record chase for a victory.

Bangladesh’s highest successful chase in fourth innings in a Test is just 217,which they did against West Indies in 2009 at St Georges while the world record for a successful chase is 418, which West Indies did against Australia. 

Hasan Mahmud, who made debut in this Test claimed 4-51 while his fellow new ball bowler Syed Khaled Ahmed took 2-29 as Sri Lanka were in quest of a quick runs to bury Bangladesh under avalanche of runs.

It meant the third day itself saw 15 wickets being fallen after just 11 wickets fell on first two days. 

Angelo Mathews was batting on 39 with Prabath Jayasuriya on 3 when the bails were drawn.

Apart from opener Nishan Madushka who scored 34 and Mathews, no batters could reach double digits.

But Bangladesh were let down by their batters. 

Fast bowler Asitha Fernando wrecked havoc on Bangladesh, registering figures of 4-34 as 

Bangladesh’s innings were wrapped up in an extended tea session on Day 2. 

Fast bowler Vishwa Fernando claimed 2-38, including the wicket of Zakir Hasan who top-scored for the side with 54 after Bangladesh resumed at 55-1.

Fernando caused the initial damage when Bangladesh were on song, courtesy to Zakir’s free flowing batting. Mominul Haque was the other one to offer some resistance with 33. 

But most of the Bangladesh batters, including captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played loose shots to hasten their downfall as Bangladesh failed to get past 200 runs in third consecutive time against Sri Lanka.

Zakir began the day by hitting Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva a boundary through short third man and then took on pacer Lahiru Kumara to keep the scoreboard going.

He raised his fourth fifty off 97 balls, steering Fernando past gully for a boundary.

Shortly after his fifty, Fernando jagged one in late to rattle his stump to give Sri Lanka the first breakthrough of the day.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossan Shanto (1) was dismissed for single digit for the third straight time and left the team in trouble further by clipping one straight to short mid-wicket when left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya (2-65) turned one sharply.

On the stroke of the lunch, Vishwa Fernando struck again to worsen Bangladesh further by dismissing nightwatchman Taijul Islam for 22.

Taijul’s dismissal brought Mominul Haque and Shakib Al Hasan, the two most experienced batters of the side into the crease and onus was on them to steer the side through the torrid time.

They began watchfully against a resurgent Lankan bowling attack, which hardly bowled any loose deliveries. 

Fernando who ripped through Bangladesh middle order, kicked off the things striking twice in an over.

Playing his first Test in a year, Shakib was trapped leg-before by a sharp inswinger of Asitha Fernando after making just 15.

Liton arrived in the crease and hit Asitha a boundary in the second ball he faced but the bowler extended his lean patch with a short of length delivery that took the outside edge of the batter.

Amid the wickets tumbling, Mominul held his nerve to patiently deal with the Lankan bowlers. 

Alongside him, young Shahadat Hossain Dipu was looked compact until fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who claimed 2-19, undid him with a short of length delivery.

Dipu could make only 8 off 36 deliveries.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz started the things as if Bangladesh were chasing in any T 20 game. From the first ball, he tried to be at his attacking best but hardly could display any skill to put the bowlers in sword. 

He played one shot too may and paid the price when Jayasuriya had him leg-before for 7. 

Asitha then trapped Mominul leg-before with a yorker before rattling the stump of Khaled to give Sri Lanka a massive lead.