After a disappointing first day, Bangladesh pulled things back, stifling the runs and taking wickets in regular intervals, as Sri Lanka reached 469 for six on day two of the second and deciding Test at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy, yesterday.
After having conceded only 43 runs in the morning session, which also saw the dismissals of Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, and Dhananjaya de Silva, the visitors kept a tight lid on the scoring, while reaping the rewards with the wickets of Oshada Fernando and Pathum Nissanka during the latter stages.
But the advent of Niroshan Dickwella finally brought in some sense of urgency in the scoring.
A naturally aggressive batsman, Dickwella constantly swept the spinners off their lengths, while Mendis climbed into anything off the radar.
Earlier, Sri Lanka who started the day at 291 for one slipped to 334 for four at lunch as Bangladesh kept their basics and their discipline well in control.
The visitors did well to keep the run-scoring in check, with only 18 runs being scored in the first hour and were rewarded finally when Lahiru Thirimanne fell, gloving a short delivery down the leg-side.
It was a deserved reward for the perseverance of Taskin Ahmed and he should have had another one in the same over, only for everyone to miss the faint edge on Angelo Mathews' bat as he prodded forward.
However, the reprieve didn't cost the tourists as the relentless pacer kept harrowing Mathews, eventually forcing a thick edge that was held by the wicket-keeper Liton Das.
He was soon followed by Dhananjaya de Silva. The right-hander, who made a classy 166 in the first Test, couldn't get going and was helpless when a sharp turner from Taijul Ahmed caught his gloves and was gobbled up at first slip.
It was an anti-climatic passage of play as the hosts lost three wickets for 15 in the space of 46 balls.
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