Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath grabbed three wickets to put Bangladesh under pressure on the third day of the second and final Test in Colombo on Monday. The left-arm spinner removed Mohammad Ashraful and then accounted for well-set Jahurul Islam and Mohammad Mahmudullah off successive balls as Bangladesh reached 158-4 in their second innings at stumps.
The tourists, trailing by 106 on first innings, are now just 52 runs ahead with six wickets in hand. Mominul Haque was unbeaten on 36 with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim seven not out. "I think Herath did a good job, but it would have been brilliant if they were five down. We dropped an easy chance and chances are to be held if we want to get on top tomorrow," said Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara. The stumble came after Bangladesh made a strong start, with Tamim Iqbal (59) and Jahurul (48) putting on 91 for the opening wicket. Sri Lanka were earlier bowled out for 346 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh's 240. They lost their remaining four wickets for 52 runs in 18.3 overs after resuming at 294-6.
-- Bangladesh 1st innings 240 (Mominul Haque 64; R. Herath 5-68)
========================================
Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 294-6):
========================================
D. Karunaratne c Rahim b Abul 17
T. Dilshan c Rahim b Robiul 0
K. Sangakkara c Rahim b Abul 139
L. Thirimanne c Rahim b Robiul 0
A. Mathews c Mahmudullah b Gazi 16
D. Chandimal b Rubel 102
K. Vithanage c Mominul b Rubel 12
N. Kulasekara c Rahim b Gazi 22
R. Herath b Gazi 3
S. Eranga c Ashraful b Mahmudullah 15
S. Lakmal not out 0
----------------------------------------
Extras: (b2, lb2, nb10, w6) 20
Total: (111.3 overs) 346
========================================
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-39, 3-43, 4-69, 5-264, 6-280, 7-316, 8-323, 9-346, 10-346
Bowling: Robiul 15-1-52-2 (nb7), Gazi 39-4-111-3, Abul 23-4-80-2 (w5), Rubel 17-5-45-2 (nb3, w1), Mahmudullah 11.3-1-37-1, Mominul 2-0-6-0, Ashraful 2-0-9-0, Nasir 2-0-2-0
========================================
Bangladesh 2nd innings:
========================================
Tamim Iqbal b Eranga 59
Jahurul Islam st Chandimal b Herath 48
Mohammad Ashraful b Herath 4
Mominul Haque not out 36
Mohammad Mahmudullah b Herath 0
Mushfiqur Rahim not out 7
----------------------------------------
Extras: (lb3, nb1) 4
Total: (for 4 wkts; 69 overs) 158
========================================