Sri Lanka 346 (Kumar Sangakkara 139, Dinesh Chandimal 102, Sohag Gazi 3-111) and 3-160 (Tillakaratne Dilshan 57, Sangakkara 55, Robiul Islam 2-42) beat Bangladesh 240 (Mominul Haque 64, Nasir Hossain 48, Rangana Herath 5-68) and 265 (Tamim Iqbal 59, Jahurul Islam 48, Herath 7-89) by seven wickets.
The Bangladeshi batsmen surrendered to the lethal spin bowling of Rangana Herath who clinched 12 wickets in the 2nd Test which was won by the Islanders.
The Bengal Tigers managed 240 runs in their first innings followed by 265 in the second. The Lankan Lions blasted 346 runs in the first innings and achieved the target of 160 runs in 41.4 overs with seven wickets in hand.
Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his brutal bowling in the game. He attained his career’s best figures of 7-89 in an innings and 12-157 in a match and also completed the tally of 200 Test wickets.
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) was announced ‘Player of the series’ for his outstanding batting in two Tests. The 35-year-old was the highest run getter in the series by smashing 441 runs at an awesome average of 110.25, the best of 142 with three centuries and 1 fifty.
The second and final Test of the series was folded back on the fourth day which was Tuesday, March 19, 2012, at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Earlier, Bangladesh started the day at 4-158 in 69 overs whereas Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim were at the crease for 36 and 7 runs respectively. Mominul Haque was gone in the very first over after the addition of just one run to his overnight score. Nasir Hossain was bowled by Rangana Herath for a duck as Sohag Gazi got together with his skipper, Mushfiqur Rahim. The batsmen were unable to score fast against the calculated bowling of the home side until the 79th over as Sohag Gazi hit his first six in the next over. He was dropped at 21 by Dimuth Karunaratne at second slip off Nuwan Kulasekara on the third ball of the next over and the batsman hit 2 fours in the same over.
Sohag Gazi became the next victim of Herath for 26 as the total reached 202 and was replaced by Abul Hasan. The batsmen preferred to attack but could not go longer as Mushfiqur Rahim was caught at slip by Angelo Mathews off Herath again for 40 from 87 balls with 1 six and 2 fours. Abul Hasan occupied his crease with 25 as the entire visiting team was bowled out for 265 after 100.4 overs.
Rangana Herath was the star performer with seven wickets, Shaminda Eranga held two whereas Tillakaratne Dilshan claimed one wicket.
Sri Lanka required 160 runs to win the match and their second innings was opened by Dimuth Karunaratne and Dilshan slowly and scored 15 runs in the first five overs. The score reached 31 as Karunaratne was declared leg before wicket off Robiul Islam for 16. The batsman in form, Kumar Sangakkara joined in next with Dilshan and the tone of the innings was changed with the boundaries. The duo opened up and was sending the ball over the rope frequently one after the other. The first hundred of the innings was displayed on board in the 23rd over as Tillakaratne Dilshan scored his 23rd Test fifty.
The score was enhanced to 125 in 27.5 overs as the stumps of Dilshan were uprooted by Robiul Islam for 57 off 73 deliveries with 6 fours. Kumar Sangakkara posted his 42nd Test half century on the first ball of the 29th over with a four. He became the next victim when Sohag Gazi sent him back to the pavilion at 135 after he contributed 55 off 85 supported by 8 fours. Lahiru Thirimanne and their captain, Angelo Mattthews contributed 13 runs each as the hosts reached the target by scoring 160 from 41.4 overs.
Sri Lanka won the match comfortably by a huge margin of seven wickets and grasped the two Test series 1-0.
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