Dilshan fires Sri Lanka to record Test win

Tillakaratne Dilshan gave a superb all-round performance to power Sri Lanka to a record 465-run victory over Bangladesh in the second and final Test here on Tuesday.

It was the fifth-largest win by runs in the history of the game. It was also Sri Lanka’s biggest victory in 182 Tests and Bangladesh’s worst defeat in 59 matches since gaining Test status in 2000. Dilshan scored an impressive 143 his second century of the match as the visitors set an improbable 624-run target for the hosts.

Bangladesh were bundled out for 158 in their second innings on the penultimate day to lose the series 2-0.

Dilshan, who picked 4-10 with his part-time spin, was named both man of the match and of the series.

Middle-order batsman Shakib Al Hasan (46) and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim (43) were the main scorers in a dismal Bangladeshi batting performance lasting just 49.2 overs.

“This is what Test cricket is all about, the guys are showing character,” said Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene of the win, achieved in his 100th Test.

“But you can’t be complacent, you have to try and improve. Dilshan knows how to handle the situation and we’ve encouraged guys to play their own game.”

Dilshan was brilliantly backed by unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis who picked 3-57 to finish with a match haul of seven wickets.

Mendis started the slide when he took three quick wickets in his opening spell, removing opener Imrul Kayes (five), Junaid Siddique (four) and Mohammad Ashraful (seven) to reduce the hosts to 62-5 at the tea break. Pacemen Dilhara Fernando and Chaminda Vaas grabbed a wicket apiece before the 32-year-old Dilshan finished the job in the closing session.

CHITTAGONG, AFP

Sri Lanka first innings 384 all out 
	(T. Dilshan 162, C.Kapugedera 96, M. Warnapura 63, S. Al Hasan 4-109, M. Mortaza 3-58)
Bangladesh first innings 208 all out 
	(M. Mortaza 63, A.Mendis 4-71, M. Muralitharan 3-62)

SRI LANKA 
SECOND INNINGS 
(overnight 296-4)

M. Warnapura lbw b Shahadat			 27
P. Jayawardene c Shakib b Ashraful		 28
K. Sangakkara b Ashraful			 54
M. Jayawardene c Kayes b Enamul			 22
T. Samaraweera lbw b Shakib			 77
T. Dilshan b Enamul				143
C. Kapugedera not out				 59
C. Vaas not out	20

Extras (b-3 lb-4 w-4 nb-6)			 17
Total (six wickets dec., 127 overs)		447

Fall of wickets: 1-55 2-55 3-123 4-165 5- 310 6-396
Did Not Bat: A. Mendis, M. Muralitharan, D. Fernando
Bowling: Mortaza 15-3-53-0, Shahadat 28-3-92-1 (w2 nb1)
	Shakib 20-2-79-1 (nb2) Enamul 36-2-109-2 (w2 nb 3), Ashraful
	17-1-56-2, Mehrab 8-0-38-0, Roqibul 1-0-3-0, Kayes 1-0-7-0,	Tamim 1-0-3-0

BANGLADESH 
SECOND INNINGS

T. Iqbal c P. Jayawardene b Vaas		 17
I. Kayes c M. Jayawardene b Mendis		  5
Z. Siddique lbw b Mendis			  4
R. Hassan b Fernando			 	 10
M. Ashraful c P. Jayawardene b Mendis		  7
M. Rahim run out			 	 43
S. Hasan st P. Jayawardene b Dilshan		 46
M. Hossain lbw b Dilshan			  5
M. Mortaza c M. Jayawardene b Dilshan		  0
S. Hossain b Dilshan				  1
E. Haque not out				  0

Extras (lb-4 lb-5 nb-11)			 20
Total (all out, 49.2 overs)			158
Fall of wickets: 1-18 2-22 3-32 4-42 5-52 6-144 7-154 8-154
		9-156.
Bowling: Vaas 8-3-16-1, Fernando 12-4-36-1(nb6), Mendis
		15-4-57-3 (nb5), Muralitharan 10-0-30-0, Dilshan 4.2-1-10-4