Three-wicket Herath puts Bangladesh in spin

AFP
Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful (right) is dismissed by Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath (unseen) in Colombo, on March 18, 2013

COLOMBO (AFP) –

Bangladeshi batsmen Mohammad Ashraful (right) is dismissed by unseen Sri Lankan bowler Rangana Herath as wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal (L) reacts during the third day of the second Test at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, on March 18, 2013.

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.

“You have to chase whatever they put on the scoreboard. The wicket is not too bad for batting, but there is a bit of inconsistent bounce.”

The stumble came after Bangladesh made a strong start, with Tamim Iqbal (59) and Jahurul (48) putting on 91 for the opening wicket.

Jahurul lost his patience and wicket when he stepped out of the crease, but missed the line and was stumped by Dinesh Chandimal. He hit one six and one four in his defiant 170-ball knock.

Herath bowled Mahmudullah with his next delivery but missed out on a hat-trick. Nuwan Kulasekara later dropped Mominul at mid-off when the batsman was on 30, denying Herath a fourth wicket.

Tamim was the first to go, inside-edging a Shaminda Eranga delivery on to the stumps after hitting one six and four boundaries in his impressive 12th Test half-century.

“We are on the back foot now, to be honest. We were in a very good position when Jahurul and Mominul were batting, but we lost a couple of wickets in the end,” said Tamim.

Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath (left) is dismissed during the second Test against Bangladesh in Colombo, on March 18, 2013

Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath (left) is dismissed during the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Colombo, on March 18, 2013. Bangladesh, trailing by 106 runs, are 93-1 in their second innings at tea on the third day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka.

“The captain and Mominul are still at the crease, with Nasir Hossain to come. If we can make a big partnership we will be in a much better position tomorrow.”

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.

Off-spinner Sohag Gazi finished with 3-111 off 39 overs, while pacemen Abul Hasan, Robiul Islam and Rubel Hossain each took two wickets.

Abul got a big wicket in the seventh over of the morning session when he removed Sangakkara (139), adjudged caught behind by the TV umpire after adding 12 runs to his overnight score of 127.

Sangakkara, who scored a century in each innings of the drawn first Test in Galle, cracked 11 fours in his third successive hundred, and the 33rd of his career.

“It’s nice to keep scoring runs, that’s something I push myself to do, no matter who I play and how many Test matches I play,” said Sangakkara.

Gazi then got two wickets as he bowled Herath for three and had Kulasekara (22) caught by wicket-keeper Rahim, who took his fifth catch of the innings.

Spinner Mahmudullah ended the innings when he had Eranga (15) caught by Ashraful at the long-on boundary.

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Edited by Staff Editor