Sri Lanka delivered a resounding performance in the second Test against Bangladesh, securing a commanding victory by an innings and 78 runs at Colombo’ s Sinhalese Sports Club. This comprehensive win not only sealed the two-match series in their favour, but also underscored the hosts’ superior collective effort and individual brilliance throughout the contest.
Pathum Nissanka’s batting masterclass
The foundation of Sri Lanka’s formidable position was laid by Pathum Nissanka, whose batting masterclass in the first innings was nothing short of spectacular. Building on his prolific form from the series opener, where he scored a magnificent 187, Nissanka continued to torment Bangladesh bowlers with a superb 158. His innings was a testament to his patience, technique, and ability to convert starts into significant scores, a quality often sought but rarely found in Test cricket. Over six painstaking hours at the crease, decorated with 19 elegant boundaries, Nissanka anchored Sri Lanka’s innings, enabling them to compile an imposing total of 458. This substantial score gave the home side a commanding first-innings lead of 211 runs, after Bangladesh were bowled out for 247 in their first innings.
Pathum Nissanka played a spectacular knock of 158 and wins the Player of the match award ⚡#CricketTwitter #PathumNissanka #SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/b0NeK8avQ5
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) June 28, 2025
Nissanka’s resilience proved incredibly frustrating for the visiting attack, who toiled hard but found breakthroughs difficult to come by, particularly before the arrival of the second new ball. While left-arm spinner Taijul Islam emerged as the most successful bowler for Bangladesh, picking up three crucial wickets, the collective efforts of the rest of the bowling unit largely failed to contain the free-scoring Sri Lankan batters. The lack of consistent pressure allowed Sri Lanka to bat Bangladesh out of the game in the first innings itself.
Prabath Jayasuriya’s five-wicket haul seals the win for Sri Lanka
With a monumental lead established, the onus shifted to Sri Lanka’s bowlers to press home the advantage, and they responded magnificently. Spearheaded by the relentless left-arm orthodox spin of Prabath Jayasuriya, the Sri Lankan attack systematically dismantled Bangladesh’s batting lineup in their second innings. Jayasuriya, a proven match-winner on home soil, showcased his class by wrapping up Bangladesh’s fragile resistance in just under half an hour on the fourth morning. The visitors, who began the day with four wickets still in hand and a glimmer of hope, collapsed swiftly under the accurate and probing deliveries of Jayasuriya, who finished with an impressive five-wicket haul.
Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva also played a pivotal role with the ball, providing excellent support to Jayasuriya. Together, they shared wickets, never allowing Bangladesh’s batters to settle or forge any meaningful partnerships that could stem the tide. The rapid capitulation ensured Sri Lanka sealed the victory by an innings and 78 runs, highlighting the stark difference in class and execution between the two sides.
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This resounding triumph means Sri Lanka secured the two-match series with a 1-0 victory, following the drawn encounter in the first Test in Galle. For Bangladesh, the series served as a harsh reminder of their familiar frailties, especially when facing pressure in the longest format of the game. While several of their batters managed to get starts, a recurring theme was their inability to convert these promising beginnings into substantial, game-changing scores. Furthermore, the team’s struggle to effectively counter Sri Lanka’s skilled spin attack proved to be an ultimately costly deficiency throughout the series. This result will undoubtedly prompt a period of introspection for the Bangladeshi squad as they look to address these fundamental issues in their Test cricket ambitions.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 458 (Nissanka 158, Chandimal 93, Kusal 84, Taijul 5/131) beat Bangladesh 247 (Shadman 46, Dinusha 3/22, Asitha 3/51) and 133 (Mushfiqur 26, Jayasuriya 5/56) by an innings and 78 runs.
Dominance Displayed! 🇱🇰🏏
Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs in SSS Colombo!
•Pathum Nissanka leads with a superb 158
•Prabath Jayasuriya spins a web with 5/56
•Sonal Dinusha shines with 3/22 on debutVictory sealed in style at the 2nd Test! 🏆
#SLvBAN… pic.twitter.com/1rx6Q42Jwv— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) June 28, 2025
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