AFTER a dominating performance by the spinners, Sri Lanka won their first series of 2021 with 209 run victory against Bangladesh in the second Test.
Praveen Jayawickrama was the pick of the bowlers helping Sri Lanka to a 209-run win against Bangladesh in the second Test in Pallekele. His figures of 11 for 178 made him the first Sri Lankan to claim a 10-wicket haul on debut and the first bowler to take a 10-wicket haul on debut since Australia’s Jason Krejza.

He is also the first bowler since Narendra Hirwani in 1988 to pick up two five-wicket hauls in his debut match.
The day began with Bangladesh resuming on 177/5, with Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan in the middle. Bangladesh’s hopes of a chase suffered an early blow when Jayawickrama trapped Liton lbw in his second over of the day.

With 254 runs required to win, Mehidy Hasan continued his efforts to chase down the target but didn’t receive adequate support from the other end. Dhananjaya de Silva sent Taijul Islam packing for 2 after drawing an edge, finding Dickwella behind the stumps.
Ramesh Mendis added to Bangladesh’s woes when he claimed the wicket of Taskin Ahmed.

Praveen Jayawickrama dealt the final blows, bagging the wickets of Mehidy Hasan and Abu Jayed in the same over, pushing his wicket tally to 11 wickets.
Sri Lanka won the series 1-0. The first match was a high-scoring draw.
Jayawickrama was adjudged the Player of the Match while Dimuth Karunaratne was named the Player of the Series.(ICC)

SRI LANKA 1st innings 493 for 7decl
Bangladesh 1st innings 251
Sri Lanka 2nd innings 194 for 9 decl
BANGLADESH 2nd innings on 177 for 5
Tamim Iqbal c Niroshan Dickwella b Ramesh Mendis 24
Saif Hassan c Suranga Lakmal b Praveen Jayawickrama 34
Nazmul Hossain Shanto b Praveen Jayawickrama 26
Mominul Haque b Ramesh Mendis 32
Mushfiqur Rahim c Dhananjaya de Silva b Ramesh Mendis 40
Liton Das lbw Praveen Jayawickrama 17
Mehidy Hasan c Pathum Nissanka b Praveen Jayawickrama 39
Taijul Islam c Niroshan Dickwella b Dhananjaya de Silva 2
Taskin Ahmed c Dimuth Karunaratne b Ramesh Mendis 7
Shoriful Islam Not Out 0
Abu Jayed lbw Praveen Jayawickrama 0
Extras 3b 2lb 1nb 0pen 0w 6
Total (71.0 overs) 227 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-31 Iqbal, 2-73 Hassan, 3-104 Shanto, 4-134 Haque, 5-171 Rahim, 6-183 Das, 7-206 Islam, 8-227 Ahmed, 9-227 Miraz, 10-227 Chowdhury
Bowling : Suranga Lakmal 4 – 2 – 14 – 0, Ramesh Mendis 28 – 2 – 103 – 4,
Praveen Jayawickrama 32 – 10 – 86 – 5, Dhananjaya de Silva 7 – 1 – 19 – 1 ( 1nb)