Sri Lanka crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 69 runs yesterday with more than two days to spare to sweep the Test series 2-0, with Chaminda Vaas and Rangana Herath each snaring three second innings wickets.
Forced to follow-on, Bangladesh resumed the third morning at three down for 131, still trailing Sri Lanka by 135 runs after the hosts had made a formidable 457 for nine wickets declared.
Sri Lanka's bowlers tore through the Bangladeshi lineup to dismiss the visitors for 197 runs to record their second victory by an innings for the series.
PHOTO: AFP
Overnight batsman Mohammad Asharaful departed in the fourth over of the day when he edged a low-catch to Thilan Samaraweera at first slip off Vaas after scoring a watchful 26 off 80 balls.
Two overs later, night-watchman Shahadat Hossain misjudged the line and left a Vaas delivery which swung in and knocked the right-hander's off stump.
Muttiah Muralitharan trapped Khaled Mashud lbw for 18 runs and left-arm spinner Herath returned to bowl Mohammad Rafique for 9 runs. Vaas finished with three wickets for 36 runs while Herath took three wickets for 52. Dilhara Fernando also took two wickets to record his best Test performance ever with seven wickets for 95 runs, surpassing his previous best of six wickets for 77 runs.
India, Zimbabwe
India beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets before tea on the third day of the second of two tests at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The visitors claimed the series 2-0 after winning the first test by an innings and 90 runs.
Hamilton Masakadza and Andy Blignaut hit half centuries yesterday to lift Zimbabwe to 190 for six wickets at lunch on the third day of the second test against India.
Zimbabwe started the day in dire straits at 39-4 -- needing another 166 to make India bat a second time -- but aggressive batting and luck took the home team to within 15 of that target.
Masakadza and Blignaut shared an unbroken 105-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Masakadza was driving and sweeping for his 67 not out, having reached his 50 with a six. Blignaut was dropped off three successive balls in a Zaheeer Khan over but he too hit the ball powerfully and was on 59 at the break, with seven fours and two sixes in 65 balls.
Zimbabwe slipped to 42-5 when Khan induced an edge from Heath Streak for V.V.S. Laxman to take an easy catch. Charles Coventry then made a 24-ball 25 before Sourav Ganguly took a catch off the bowling of Irfan Pathan, bringing Blignaut to the crease.
India won last week's first test by an innings and 90 runs, and needs only to avoid defeat to win the two-test series.
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