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Karunaratne helps Sri Lanka end day 2 at 143-2

Karunaratne helps Sri Lanka end day 2 at 143-2
Sports

Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne has solidly remained unbeaten on 70 helped the visitors to comfortably finish at 143-2 the day 2 of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Bangladesh managed to pick up two wickets before ending the day at Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday after being dismissed for 365 in first innings.

Opener Oshada Fernando brought up a fifty, 57 off 91 balls, before being sent back to the pavilion by Ebadot Hossain, helped the visitors ending the with positive note trailing by 222 runs.

However, Oshada survived twice, when on 4, as he reviewed one successfully in the first over of Sri Lanka's innings to overturn the umpire's decision. Then on 39, a Bangladesh review failed to fetch any successful result when Taijul Islam beat him on the outside edge. It looked plumb.

Kusal Mendis was dismissed at 11 by Shakib Al Hasan at the fag end of the day, bringing some respite for the hosts. Dimuth Karunaratne, however, smoothly accumulated runs and remained unbeaten at 70 off 127 balls.

Shakib Al Hasan and Ebadot Hossain were pick of the bowlers taking one wicket each. Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim was stranded at 175 as he lacked partner to complete his fourth double century. Liton Das hit his career-best 141 to complement Mushfiqur's effort.

Mushfiqur who showed an unwavering resolve smote 21 boundaries for his 175 not out which came from 355 balls. He stayed in the crease for 526 minutes, which is his second longest knock in terms of times.

By hitting this superb knock, he had already passed 150 plus for the fifth time, the highest amongst the Bangladeshi batters.

Out of his nine centuries, five now were 150 plus, proving his knack to play big knock when he crossed century. Having done so, Mushfiqur also became the first Bangladeshi batter to score 3000 runs at home soil.

Sri Lanka pacers Kasun Rajitha (5-64) and Asitha Fernando (4-93) claimed nine wickets out of 10 with both of them registering their career-best figures.

Rajitha struck in the eighth over of the day, dismissing Liton Das after Bangladesh resumed at 277-5. Liton poked a length delivery to edge behind the wicket to be out on 141 off 246 which included 16 fours and one six.

He could add just six runs to his overnight total and his dismissal brought an end to the 272-runs partnership, which is highest for Bangladesh in sixth wicket stand.

Liton and Mushfiqur rebuilt the innings after Bangladesh slumped to 24-5. However three balls later, Rajitha took Mosaddek Hossain for duck as the batter edged a delivery that moved slightly.

But Mushfiqur remained firm and brought up his 150 from 291 balls, nudging a delivery by offspinner Ramesh Mendis past square leg for two.

Fernando then removed Taijul Islam (15) and Khaled Ahmed (0) to take Sri Lanka closer to wrap up Bangladesh innings.

Mushfiqur resisted and forced an extended lunch session, Ebadot dismissal later denied him a well deserved double century.