As the second Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka progresses into its fourth day, the stakes are high for both teams | Reddy Anna. Sri Lanka finds itself in a favorable position, poised to clinch the series with a commanding lead, while Bangladesh faces an uphill battle after a top-order collapse.
After Sri Lanka secured a substantial first-innings lead of 141 runs, Bangladesh's top-order crumbled under pressure during the final session of Day 4. Asitha Fernando struck early for Sri Lanka, swiftly dismissing Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudul Hasan Joy. In quick succession, Bangladesh also lost the wickets of Najmul Hussain Shanto and skipper Mominul Haque, leaving them reeling at 34 for four.
The foundation for Sri Lanka's dominance was laid by Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, who displayed remarkable resilience with their marathon innings, scoring 145 and 124 runs respectively. Their contributions propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable total of 506 runs in their first innings.
Bangladesh, initially struggling at 24/5, staged a remarkable fightback led by Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das. Their extraordinary 272-run partnership not only rescued Bangladesh from a precarious situation but also propelled them to a total of 365 runs. Despite Das falling early on Day 4, Rahim's brilliant batting display, coupled with support from the lower order, helped Bangladesh surpass the 350-run mark.
However, the Sri Lankan spinners failed to make an impact, with none of them managing to take a wicket and conceding runs at a higher economy rate. It was the pacers, Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando, who stood out with exceptional performances, sharing nine wickets between them. Sri Lanka might rue the missed opportunity to capitalize fully on their strong position due to the lack of support for their pacers from the spinners.
As the match heads into its final day, Sri Lanka will look to maintain their dominance and secure a series-clinching win, while Bangladesh will seek early breakthroughs to stage a comeback. With the pitch still offering assistance to bowlers, both teams will need to strategize effectively to achieve their respective objectives.
Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion as Sri Lanka aims to assert their supremacy and Bangladesh fights back to salvage pride in this riveting Test encounter.
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