Debutant Praveen Jayawickrama rocked the Bangladeshi batsman on day 3 of the 2nd Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to finish with figures of 6/92 as the Tigers were bowled out for 251 in their 1st innings.
Jayawickrama was on the money from the very beginning of his spell, using flight and dip to his advantage as he made a crucial breakthrough to send Saif Hassan back to the pavilion – breaking a 98-run stand between Hassan and Tamil Iqbal.
He should have had Mominul Haque at least twice early into the 2nd session but the left hander was lucky to survive, being put down by Ramesh Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne.
The wicket of Tamim Iqbal was perhaps the best scalp of them all for Jayawickrama, not just because the left-hander was completely dominating the Sri Lankans, but also because of the manner in which he set it up.
Having bowled 5 similarly tossed up deliveries that spun back into Tamim from over the wicket, the left-arm spinner decided to change the angle and come from around the wicket. This time however, though he pitched it at a similar length, the ball was slightly quicker and went on with the arm. Tamim played for the spin and nicked one to Lahiru Thirimanne, who took a sharp catch at slip.
A similar quick one that went with the arm saw Mushfiqur Rahim trapped lbw and from that point it was curtains for the visitors, who crumbled in the 3rd session.
Ramesh Mendis, was the perfect foil to Jayawickrama at the other end, though the off-spinner regularly missed his length, allowing the batsman to play him on the back foot, He picked up 2 wickets as well before Suranga Lakmal came in and cleaned up the tail.
The innings ended in farcical fashion as Taijul Islam was out hit wicket after his boot came off and hit the stumps.
In reply Sri Lanka lost the wickets of Lahiru Thirimanne and Oshada Fernando, but were sitting pretty with a lead of 259 runs already in hand.
