Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on an unbeaten stand of 131 yesterday to give Sri Lanka a lead of 472 runs over Bangladesh at stumps on the third day of the second Test.
Dilshan reached 81 and Samaraweera 72, with both batsmen hitting nine boundaries to steer the visitors to 296 for four at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium.
Kumar Sangakkara had earlier hit 54 to put Sri Lanka in charge of the two-Test series after they won the first match by 107 runs.
PHOTO: AFP
Resuming on 13-0, Sri Lanka added 42 before Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful had Prasanna Jayawardene caught at mid-wicket by Shakib Al Hasan’s diving catch for 28.
Shahadat Hossain then trapped Malinda Warnapura leg before wicket for 27 in the next over, with no runs added to the total.
Sangakkara and captain Mahela Jayawardene put on a 68-run stand in the second session before Imrul Kayes caught Jayawardene off Enamul Haque for 22.
Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera then added 42 runs to take Sri Lanka to 165. Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful took his second wicket by bowling Sangakkara for 54. Sangakkara had brought up his 28th half-century off 96 balls with four boundaries.
Samaraweera and Dilshan put on their unbeaten stand for the fifth wicket. Samaraweera’s 18th Test half-century came off 112 balls, while Dishan took 70 balls to hit his 13th.
On Sunday, Bangladesh tail-ender Mashrafe bin Mortaza hit a remarkable half-century to move the hosts past the follow-on target, but Sri Lanka still finished the second day in a commanding position with a 176-run lead.
■AUSTRALIA V S AFRICA
STAFF WRITER
Score at the end of play on the third day of the third Test in Sydney:
• Australia 445 & 33-0
• South Africa 327
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