BAN vs SL: 2nd Test, Day 4 Review: Sri Lanka on course for series sweep in Chattogram

Sri Lanka were looking to bounce back on Day 4 of the second Test after losing wickets at quick succession in their second innings in Chattogram. Bangladesh bowlers gave the hosts a flying start as they picked up six wickets before they could even cross the 100-run mark.

Overnight Sri Lankan batters — Angelo Mathews and Prabath Jayasuriya had the responsibility to get the visitors back on track and help them post a formidable target. Mathews who was batting on 39* quickly went to score his 40th Test fifty before being castled by Shakib Al Hasan's brilliant off-break delivery. 

Vishwa Fernando joined Jayasuriya and played only 16 deliveries before Dhananjaya de Silva declared the innings. Jayasuriya played a good cameo as he was not out on 28. The Sri Lankan camp was very much pleased by the target they had given and were optimistic to give them some early blows. 

Coming into bat Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan, had the task of giving the hosts a solid start and creating the tone for the rest of the match. Joy has had a string of poor performances and was the first wicket to fall after scoring just 24 runs. Jayasuriya got the breakthrough and uprooted Joy's middle stump. Hasan who had scored a fifty in the first innings fell just after Joy after scoring just 19 runs off Vishwa Fernando's bowling.

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Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and left-hand batter Mominul Haque had the task of taking the team out of these two back-to-back blows. While both the batters started cautiously and were also trying to keep up the run rate, Shanto was the victim of Lahiru Kumara's brilliant victory and the bowling change by the Sri Lankan skipper proved to be fruitful.

While Haque was trying to hold one innings, it was Shakib Al Hasan who walked in next to support the young batter. Haque was playing an aggressive innings and scored his fifty in no time. But the Sri Lankan camp didn't have to wait much to get rid of him. Shakib was looking to play a good innings but couldn't make it big as Kamindu Mendis got the breakthrough. 

Experienced Litton Das was also looking good and was stitching a good partnership with his experienced pro but couldn't spend much time at the crease after his dismissal. Shahadat Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were the new batters in and were hitting the ball well and both notched up a 46-run partnership before Hossain became the last wicket of the day. 

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Miraz and Taijul Islam will be coming into bat on the final day of the Test match. Bangladesh require 243 runs to win this Test match. While the hosts are looking for a comeback in the series and to level it 1-1. The visitors after winning the opening Test match at Sylhet are looking for a similar result to seal the series. 

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka: 157/7d in 40 overs (Angelo Mathews 56, Hasan Mahmud 4/65)

Bangladesh: 268/7 in 67 overs (Mominul Haque 50, Kamindu Mendis 2/22)