After a dominating performance by the spinners, Sri Lanka won their first series of 2021 with a 209-run victory against Bangladesh in the second Test at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy yesterday. Debutant left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama was the pick of the bowlers helping Sri Lanka to wrap up a comprehensive win with more than two sessions to spare.
His figures of 11 for 178 made him the first Sri Lankan to claim a 10-wicket haul on debut and the first bowler to take a 10-wicket haul on debut since Australia's Jason Krejza in 2008.
He is also the first bowler since Narendra Hirwani in 1988 to pick up two five-wicket hauls in his debut match. Jayawickrama also became the 16th bowler to claim a 10-wicket haul on Test debut.
The day began with Bangladesh resuming on 177 for five with Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan in the middle. However, Bangladesh's hopes of a chase suffered an early blow when Jayawickrama trapped Liton lbw in his second over of the day.
With 254 runs required to win, Mehidy Hasan continued his efforts to chase down the target but didn't receive adequate support from the other end.
Dhananjaya de Silva sent Taijul Islam packing for two runs after drawing an edge, finding Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps.
Thereafter, Ramesh Mendis added to Bangladesh's woes when he claimed the wicket of Taskin Ahmed.
Young Jayawickrama dealt the final blows, bagging the wickets of Mehidy Hasan and Abu Jayed in the same over while pushing his wicket tally to 11 wickets.
Sri Lanka won the series 1-0 after the first match was a high-scoring draw at the same venue.
Jayawickrama was adjudged the Player-of- the-Match while Dimuth Karunaratne was named the Player-of-the-Series.
