COLOMBO: Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan shared six wickets between them but Sri Lanka fought back through a fighting century of Dimuth Karunaratne in the second Test in Colombo yesterday.
Karunaratne held one end for a long period to score 126 before a dogged unbeaten inning of Dilruwan Perera helped Sri Lanka reach 268 for seven at stumps on the fourth day to stretch their lead over the visitors to 139 runs.
This much lead looked a distant possibility once Mustafizur and Shakib triggered a collapse in Sri Lankan innings in the post lunch session but Karunaratne hung on to score 126 before Perera hit an 26 of 126 balls.
Perera received support from tail-enders Rangana Herath (9 of 32 balls) and Suranga Lakmal, 14 not out, as the hosts were hoping to expand their lead to give their bowlers something to fight with.
Bangladesh struck in the day’s second over through off-spinner Mehedi Hasan.