Sri Lanka decimate Bangladesh to clinch series

Bangladesh suffered a humiliating 215-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test match at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Saturday. In the process, the Lankans wrapped up the series 1-0. Chasing a difficult target of 339 on a turning Mirpur pitch, the host were bundled out for just 123 in only 29.3 overs. A lot was riding on opener Tamim Iqbal as he has the history of scoring crucial runs on the difficult Mirpur track in the last couple of years. But Tamim lost his wicket against spinner Dilruwan Perera in the first ball of the second over. It was a fullish delivery outside off stump and Tamim strode forward only to miss the ball. The umpire gave him out and he called for a review. TV replays showed the ball would have hit the off stump and the visiting side struck early. No 3 batsman Mominul Haque and opener Imrul Kayes scored quick runs for the second wicket, forming a 46-run partnership. But Imrul got out in the third ball of the 11th over, just after hitting a sixer against spinner Rangana Herath in the previous delivery. Mominul was also dismissed by Herath after scoring 33 off 47 balls, thanks to a sharp catch by wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Bangladesh lost the second Rocket Test by 215 runs. #BANvSL pic.twitter.com/f4xQ2VEb5G

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) February 10, 2018

Debutant Akila Dananjaya then came to the party and took five wickets - Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Abdur Razzak and Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Sabbir’s innings lasted just two balls in the second innings as the right-hander got caught at short leg by Kusal Mendis in the 27th over. With the bat, Sabbir’s stay at the crease lasted for only a combined five balls in both innings. Sabbir overall had a horrible Test as he dropped a few catches in the slip cordon as well. Bangladesh lost their last five wickets in just 22 balls in the second innings. The home side had also lost their last five wickets for the same number of deliveries in the first innings. Meanwhile, Herath took the last wicket of Bangladesh’s innings and entered the record book of Test cricket. With No 10 batsman Taijul Islam’s wicket, Herath claimed 415 Test scalps, becoming the highest left-arm wicket-taker in history. Herath overtook Pakistani Wasim Akram (414 wickets in 181 innings) in just 162 innings. Earlier, the Lankans added 26 more runs to their overnight score and were all out for 226 in 73.5 overs. Player of the match and series Roshen Silva was unbeaten on 70.

The last team to win a test series in Bangladesh was @TheRealPCB in 2015.... since then @BCCI @OfficialCSA @ECB_cricket @CricketAus have visited @BCBtigers for test matches

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) February 9, 2018

Taijul bagged four wickets while paceman Mustafizur Rahman took three.BRIEF SCORESri Lanka 222 & 226 in 73.5 overs (Roshen 70*, Taijul 4/76) beat Bangladesh 110 & 123 in 29.3 overs (Dananjaya 5/24, Herath 4/49) by 215 runs