Sri Lanka strengthened its grip on the second Test against Bangladesh by increasing its lead to 312 runs in its second innings on day two Friday. Sri Lanka were 200/8 at stumps, after taking a 112-run lead on the first innings. Roshen Silva was 58 not out, his second fifty in the match, and Suranga Lakmal was batting on 7.
Bangladesh's highest successful fourth-innings chase was 215 in 2009 against the West Indies. With the first Test at Chittagong drawn on Sunday, Sri Lanka look set to record their 16th win in 20 Tests against Bangladesh, as early as Saturday.
Fourteen wickets fell for the second straight day.
Silva's fourth half-century in just his third Test held together the Sri Lanka second innings as the Bangladesh bowlers struck regularly on a pitch offering turn and bounce aplenty.
He hit nine fours in his almost chanceless knock, facing 94 balls as his teammates struggled in the middle. Bangladesh didn't help its cause by dropping seven catches.
After Bangladesh was dismissed for 110, opener Dimuth Karunaratne gave Sri Lanka a solid start with Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 28. Karunarate contributed 32 before he was out after tea to offspinner Mehidy Hasan, 2/29.
Silva combined with captain Dinesh Chandimal, 30, for 51 runs to extend their dominance.
Mehidy broke the resistance of Chandimal with a delivery that kept low, and pace bowler Mustafizur, 3/35, shook up the lower order but Silva remained solid.
Earlier, Bangladesh resumed its first innings on 56/4 and lost 5/3 in three overs to give Sri Lanka a big lead. Mehidy Hasan top-scored with an unbeaten 38.
(With AP Inputs)
