Sri Lanka openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando made a strong start in their first innings and thanks to their 95-run stand the visitors finished the second day on 143-2 replying Bangladesh's 365 during their second Test at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium on Tuesday.
Fernando got out for 57 before one-down Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 11 but Lankan skipper Karunaratne, who got a couple of lives, was not out on 70 and will look forward to move on in the crucial third day.
Ebadot Hossain gave the breakthrough for hosts when Najmul Hossain Shanto caught Fernando at first slip before Shakib al Hasan trapped Mendis for a leg before when the score was 139.
Sri Lanka sent night-watchman Kasun Rajitha to deal the remaining overs under fading light and he accomplished the job consuming 11 runs without scoring any runs as only 80 overs were bowled throughout the day.
Earlier, riding on Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten 175 and Liton Das' 141 Bangladesh scored 365 runs after resuming on 277-5.
Bangladesh lost four wickets in the morning session on day two. At lunch on day 2, Bangladesh were on 361 runs losing nine wickets.
Mushfiq and Liton's record breaking sixth wicket partnership ended on 272.
Liton scored 141 runs with sixteen fours and one six before getting out against Sri Lanka pacer Rajitha during the first ball of 93rd over.
Rajitha, who ended on 5-64- his first ever five-wicket haul, then also took the wicket of Mosaddek Hossain (0) in the same over while his pace bowling partner Ashita Fernando returned with 4-93.