Sri Lanka on the ascendancy after Bangladesh batting collapse

Yet another dreadful show by the batsmen put host Bangladesh on the back foot as Sri Lanka ended day two of the Dhaka Test match with a 312-run lead with two wickets to spare in the second innings. Coming to the third day of the game, Bangladesh will look to dismiss the two remaining Sri Lanka batsmen and chase somewhere around 330. However, a lot will depend on the top-order batsmen, who failed miserably in the first innings. Play resumed on day two with Bangladesh struggling on 56 for the loss of four wickets in 22 overs in the first innings, replying to Sri Lanka's 222. The Tigers were heavily dependent on three batsmen in the shape of Liton Das, captain Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman and had come out on the day with the plan to put at least 300 on the board on a difficult Mirpur track. However, as it were, all hell broke loose for the Tigers as they were tamed by the opposition bowlers, getting bundled out for just 110 in 45.4 overs. Liton could add only one run to the overnight tally as he got dismissed for 25 by Suranga Lakmal. Later, Mahmudullah and Mehedi Hasan Miraz registered Bangladesh’s highest partnership of the innings by adding 34 for the sixth wicket. But Mahmudullah soon missed the turn of Akila Dananjaya and saw the ball crash into the stumps to leave Bangladesh reeling on 107/6. From there, Bangladesh suffered a humiliating collapse, losing the last five wickets for just three runs in 21 deliveries. Sabbir, who replaced Mosaddek Hossain and returned to the Test fold after missing out on the Chittagong Test, was disappointing as the right-hander survived only three balls and got out for a duck. Bangladesh were all out with 16 minutes to go to lunch. Lakmal and debutant Akila picked up three wickets each while Dilruwan Perera took two.

Stumps, Day 2.#BANvSL pic.twitter.com/OAp3gXvFrN

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) February 9, 2018

Sri Lanka went out to bat for the second time in the game and riding on Roshen Silva's unbeaten 58, posted 200 for eight in 62 overs at stumps. The Bangladesh bowlers were making an effort but only in intervals as almost all the Sri Lankan batsmen chipped in to push the innings, and subsequently, manage a big lead. Abdur Razzak got the Tigers their first wicket in the second innings, dismissing Kusal Mendis for seven in the seventh over. They further lost Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka and Dimuth Karunaratne to Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Miraz: the Lankans tottering on 92 for four. However, Bangladesh were denied the momentum as Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Silva built a 51-run stand for the fifth wicket before Miraz removed Chandimal for 30. Sri Lanka then slid from 170 for six to 178 for eight as Mustafizur initiatied a double blow in the 56th over after Taijul had removed Niroshan Dickwella for 10. Mustafizur trying to cope with the condition of the wicket had cut down the speed of his delivery and had wicket-keeper Liton stand close to the stumps, as a spinner would do, and had the slips stationed a couple of yards behind the Bangladesh stumper. With five overs remaining in the last session of the day, Mustafizur in the second ball of the 56th over dismissed Dilruwan Perera and in the next delivery Akila, to stand on the threshold of his maiden Test hat-trick. The fielders were kept close to the new batsman Lakmal on a good length delivery in the trajectory of the middle stump, which the batsman failed to flick. Liton had gloved the ball well but it made no contact with the bat. Bangladesh in the remainder of the day's play were not able to pick anymore wickets as Lakmal and Silva remained unbeaten on seven and 58 respectively.

Roshen Silva's fifty extends Sri Lanka's advantage, SL ended Day 2 with a 312-run lead. Roshen Silva 58*, Suranga Lakmal 7*. #BANvSL pic.twitter.com/O4UHsrSiOh

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) February 9, 2018

BRIEF SCORE Sri Lanka 200/8 in 62 overs (Silva 58*, Mustafizur 3/35) & 222 lead Bangladesh 110 in 45.4 overs (Miraz 38*, Akila 3/20) by 312 runs