COLOMBO, March 18; Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan shared six wickets between them but Sri Lanka fought back through a fighting century of Dimuth Karunaratne in the second Test here today.
Karunaratne held one end for a long period to score 126 before a dogged unbeaten inning of Dilruwan Perera helped Sri Lanka reach 268-7 at stumps on the fourth day to stretch their lead over the visitors to 139 runs.
This much lead looked a distant possibility once Mustafizur and Shakib triggered a collapse in Sri Lankan innings in the post lunch session but Karunaratne hang on to score 126 before Perera hit an 26 off 126 balls.
Perera received support from tail-enders Rangana Herath (9 off 32 balls) and Suranga Lakmal, 14 not out as the hosts were hoping to expand their lead to give their bowlers something to fight with.
Bangladesh struck in the day�s second over through off-spinner Mehedi Hasan, who spun one sharply to bowl out opener Upul Tharanga for 26 after Sri Lanka resumed on 54-0.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka 1st innings: 338
Bangladesh 1st innings: 467
Sri Lanka 2nd innings: Karunaratne c Soumya Sarkar b Shakib Al Hasan 126, Tharanga b Mehedi Hasan Miraz 26, Mendis c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 36, Chandimal c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 5, Gunaratne lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 7, De Silva c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 0, Dickwella c Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 5, Perera not out 26, Herath lbw b Taijul Islam 9, Lakmal not out 16. Extras: (b 4, lb 7, w 1) 12. Total: (8 wickets; 100 overs) 268. Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-143, 3-165, 4-176, 5-177, 6-190, 7-217, 8-238. Bowling: Subashis Roy 16-4-36-0, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 22-0-67-1, Mustafizur Rahman 19-3-52-3, Shakib Al Hasan 30-8-61-3, Mosaddek Hossain 3-0-10-0, Taijul Islam 10-1-31-1. � PTI
