Bangladesh started day four on 318 for three with well-set Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das.
The morning session went wicketless as both Mushfiq and Liton were watchful and crawling towards their respective century.
The Tigers went to lunch break with Mushfiq and Liton unbeaten on 85 and 88 respectively.
Both batsmen looked confident and it looked like they would try to score some quick runs after reaching the three-figure mark as Sri Lanka bowlers did not give that many scoring opportunities on the penultimate day’s morning session.
But after lunch Liton was dismissed in the very first ball.
It was a short delivery outside off from Kasun Rajitha and Liton was a bit casual and tried to play a half-hearted cut shot without moving his feet that much.
The ball took the edge of his bat and wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella took a regulation catch.
Liton was disappointed while returning to the pavilion as he was surely thinking of missing out on a Test century after batting well.
Tamim Iqbal was the next batsman to come in as he was retired hurt on 133 on day three after suffering from cramp.
But Tamim’s middle stump was uprooted in the very next delivery as it was a superb incoming ball from Rajitha from round the wicket.
The southpaw went for an on drive on his front foot but the cherry went through the gap between bat and pad.
Rajitha was ecstatic as it was the best possible start for the Lankans after the break.
From a defensive situation, suddenly Sri Lanka were on top with two wickets in back to back balls.
Concussion sub Rajitha was on a hat-trick but next batsman Shakib al Hasan defended the incoming ball well.
Those two deliveries defined Sri Lanka’s comeback in the session.
