Spinners earn Sri Lanka 1-0 Test series win over Bangladesh

Sri Lankan spinners masterminded a fantastic 215-run win over Bangladesh on the third day of the second and final cricket Test to seal a 1-0 away series win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Saturday.

Roshen Silva led the batting charge to help set Bangladesh a 339-run target, and with Akila Dananjaya and Rangana Herath running riot, Bangladesh finished on a disappointing 123, the innings finishing in just 29.3 overs.

Herath finished with 4/49, taking his career tally to 415 wickets to go past Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram's mark of 414 to become the most successful left-arm bowler in the history of the format.

And Dananjaya, playing his first Test, returned the best match figures by a Sri Lankan on debut with 8/44, his 5/24 in the second innings a masterful exhibition of control more than anything else.

The day started with Sri Lanka on 200/8, already 312 runs ahead, and they added 26 more runs before finishing up.

In their chase, Bangladesh lost Tamim Iqbal on the first ball of the second over for two, trapped in front when he missed one from Dilruwan Perera that didn't turn. He reviewed, but to no avail.

Imrul Kayes (17) and Mominul Haque (33) did a bit for the second wicket, adding 46, but Herath ended Kayes' resistance inducing an edge to stumper Niroshan Dickwella.

Haque looked good while he lasted, at least in terms of his attitude, but Mushfiqur Rahim (25) followed the Kayes template in trying to go for his shots, attempting two reverse sweeps even before he had opened his account.

The two of them survived till lunch, but it unravelled rather quickly for Bangladesh after the break.

Third over into the afternoon session, Herath got Haque to edge behind, and stumper Liton Das (12) followed, popping Dananjaya to Kusal Mendis at forward short-leg.

And from 64/2, when Haque and Rahim were batting, to 102/7, when the last recognised batsman Sabbir Rahman (1) fell, was a matter of 10 overs, with Herath and Dananjaya running the show.

--IANS

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