Sri Lanka Crushes Bangladesh by an Innings and 78 Runs to Seal Test Series Victory

Colombo – Sri Lanka delivered a dominant performance to defeat Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs on the fourth day of the second Test at the SSC Ground in Colombo, clinching the two-match Test series 1-0 on Saturday.

Bangladesh, resuming the day on a shaky 115 for six and still trailing by 97 runs, were hoping for a miracle to avoid an innings defeat. However, those hopes were quickly dashed as Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya removed Litton Das with just the fifth ball of the morning. Das edged behind to Kusal Mendis for 14, and from there, the visitors crumbled.

Jayasuriya, who had gone wicketless in the first innings, made a strong comeback, triggering a swift collapse of the Bangladesh lower order. The result was a clinical finish before lunch on day four, with Sri Lanka securing valuable World Test Championship points in the process.

Series Summary

The first Test in Galle had ended in a draw, thanks to a stellar performance from Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who hit centuries in both innings. However, the second Test saw a stark contrast, with none of the Bangladeshi batters reaching fifty.

After winning the toss on a relatively flat pitch, Bangladesh failed to capitalise, managing only 247 in their first innings. Sri Lanka responded emphatically, posting 458 to secure a commanding 211-run lead.

The hosts’ batting was anchored by Pathum Nissanka, who struck a sublime 158 — his second century of the series — while Dinesh Chandimal added a classy 93. The pair’s 194-run stand for the second wicket set the tone for Sri Lanka’s dominance.