(REUTERS)-Seamer Mustafizur Rahman and spinner Shakib Al Hasan picked up three wickets apiece to help Bangladesh reduce Sri Lanka to 268-8 in their second innings for a lead of 139 on the fourth day of the second test on Saturday.
The hosts, who conceded a first-innings lead of 129, appeared to be in big trouble in their second essay despite opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s fine 126, his fifth Test hundred.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 190-6 at one point but fought back with useful partnerships from the lower order to boost their hopes of a 2-0 win in the two-match series.
Dilruwan Perera was unbeaten on 26 with Suranga Lakmal 16 not out and the pair have already added 30 for the ninth wicket to dampen Bangladesh’s hopes of a maiden win against Sri Lanka in their 100th test.
Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan struck with his first ball of the day to dismiss Upul Tharanga for 26 and break Sri Lanka’s flourishing opening partnership after they had resumed on 54-0.
Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis (36) added 86 for the second wicket as Sri Lanka stayed on course to set Bangladesh a challenging target to chase on the final day.
Mustafizur and Shakib brought Bangladesh back into the match by inducing a mini collapse which saw the hosts reduced from 143-1 to 190-6.
Karunaratne and Perera then added 27 for the seventh wicket before the former became Shakib’s (3-61) third scalp of the innings.

SRI LANKA 1st innings 338 (D. Chandimal 138)
Bangladesh 1st innings 467 (S. Al Hasan 116, M. Hossain 75, S. Sarkar 61, M. Rahim 52; R. Herath 4-82, L. Sandakan 4-140)
Sri Lanka 2nd innings (Overnight: 54-0)
D. Karunaratne c Sarkar b Al Hasan 126
U. Tharanga b M. Hasan 26
K. Mendis c Rahim b M. Rahman 36
D. Chandimal c Rahim b M. Rahman 5
A. Gunaratne lbw b Al Hasan 7
D. de Silva c Rahim b M. Rahman 0
N. Dickwella c Rahim b Al Hasan 5
D. Perera not out 26
R. Herath lbw b T. Islam 9
S. Lakmal not out 16
Extras (b-4 lb-7 w-1) 12
Total (for 8 wickets, 100 overs) 268
Fall of wickets: 1-57 U. Tharanga,2-143 K. Mendis,3-165 D. Chandimal,4-176 A. Gunaratne,5-177 D. de Silva,6-190 N. Dickwella,7-217 D. Karunaratne,8-238 R. Herath
To bat: L. Sandakan
Bowling: S. Roy 16 – 4 – 36 – 0(w-1),M. Hasan 22 – 0 – 67 – 1
M. Rahman 19 – 3 – 52 – 3,S. Al Hasan 30 – 8 – 61 – 3,
Mosa. Hossain 3 – 0 – 10 – 0, T. Islam 10 – 1 – 31 – 1.