By: Nalin Jayetileke
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 209 runs in the 2nd test played at Pallekele international Cricket Stadium and Clinched the 2 match series. It was the debutant Praveen Jayawickrama who did the damage for the visitors, becoming somewhat unplayable at the later stages and was named the Man of the Match. He went right up in the history books for being the 1st bowler from Sri Lanka to take a match bag of 11 wickets, playing his first Test for his country. Praveen claimed 6 for 92 bowling 32 overs in the first inning and then went on to celebrate a norther 5 wickets in the 2nd innings finishing with 5 for 86, bowling a norther 32 overs which gave him the match bag of 11 wickets. A fantastic performance by the left arm spinner. From the 3rd day, the wicket did support the spinners and the two Sri Lankan Spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and Ramesh Mendis did make use of the conditions and executed a well deserved victory.
Dimuth Karunaratne was named the player of the Series for his double century in the 1st Test (244), 118 and 66 in the 2nd Test match.
Another note worthy performance was the match bag of 6 wickets by spinner Ramesh Mendis who supported Praveen from the other end in both innings, claiming 2 wickets in the 1st and 4 in the 2nd.
Final scores- Sri Lanka 493 for 7 wickets declared in the 1st inning and 194 for 9 in the 2nd , Bangladesh 251 in the first and 227 in the 2nd all-out.
Series won by Sri Lanka
