Sri Lanka Clinches Test Series Against Bangladesh with Jayasuriya's Five-Wicket Haul

Sri Lanka secured a decisive victory over Bangladesh in the second Test match at the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo, winning by an innings and 78 runs, thereby clinching the two-match Test series 1-0. The match concluded on Saturday, October 21, 2023, with left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya delivering a stellar performance, claiming his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

The series finale unfolded under challenging conditions for Bangladesh, who began the fourth day struggling at 6-115, needing an additional 97 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Jayasuriya's exceptional bowling decimated the Bangladeshi batting lineup, leading to their second innings total of just 133 runs, following their first innings score of 247. The spinner's remarkable figures of 5-56 were instrumental in dismantling the opposition's tail, with his key wickets including Litton Das, Nayeem Hasan, and Taijul Islam.

Sri Lanka's first innings was marked by a dominant performance, scoring 458 runs, thanks to a century from opener Pathum Nissanka and significant contributions from Dinesh Chandimal (93) and Kusal Mendis (84). This strong foundation set the tone for Sri Lanka's commanding victory.

Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva praised the team's bowling and batting execution, stating, "Bowlers had their plans and executed well. That's a good morale booster for us, losing the toss and putting the opposition under pressure." Nissanka's performance earned him the player of the match and series accolades, further solidifying his reputation in all formats of the game.

In contrast, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged the shortcomings of his team's batting, stating, "We had opportunities, but we couldn't make those things happen. The wicket is a little slower but the way we got out was not good enough. We always took easy options and made mistakes while batting."

The first Test of the series, held in Galle, ended in a draw, highlighting the competitive nature of the series. Sri Lanka's victory in the second Test not only showcased their bowling prowess but also reflected the growing strength of their cricketing capabilities on the international stage. With this win, Sri Lanka aims to build momentum as they prepare for future international engagements.