Akila Dananjaya finished with figures of 5-24 off five overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Akila Dananjaya and Rangana Herath etched their names in the record books as they spearheaded Sri Lanka’s 215-run win over Bangladesh on the third day in Dhaka.
With his five-wicket haul, Dananjaya became just the third Sri Lankan debutant to take a five-for on debut. The other two bowlers to accomplish this feat were Upul Chandana and Kosala Kuruppuarachchi.
Furthermore, his match figures of 8-44 are the best bowling figures by a Sri Lanka player on debut.
As for Herath, he achieved something quite special as he became the most successful left-arm bowler in Test history. Herath now sits on 415 wickets in the longest format, which pushed him past legendary Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram, who took 414 wickets during his illustrious Test career.
Starting off the day on 200/8, Roshen Silva and Suranga Lakmal added another 26 runs to their side’s overnight score before Lakmal was clean bowled by Taijul Islam for 21.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 226 the very next ball as Herath was given out lbw off the bowling of Taijul for a golden duck.
Silva was left stranded on 70, which came off 145 balls and included 10 boundaries, as Bangladesh were set a target of 339 to win.
Taijul was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman snapped up three, Mehidy Hasan Miraz took two and Abdur Razaak chipped in with one.
Chasing 339 to win, Bangladesh lost opener Tamim Iqbal on the seventh ball as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Dilruwan Perera for two runs.
Tamim reviewed the decision immediately, but it didn’t save him as the on-field call was upheld.
Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque began the rebuilding process for Bangladesh and managed to put together a 46-run partnership before Kayes was caught behind off the bowling of Herath for 17.
Mominul went on to make 33 before he suffered the same fate as Kayes.
Once Mominul was gone, Dananjaya and Herath carved through Bangladesh’s middle and lower order like a knife through butter as as the hosts went from 64/3 to being bowled out for 123.
Dananjaya was the most successful bowler with five wickets, while Herath got four and Dilruwan claimed one.
Rangana Herath is now the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Bangladesh stand-in captain Mahmudullah was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said: “Feeling really disappointed because we knew the pitch would get us a result. In this sort of a wicket you should cash in on the first innings.
“Their bowlers did the job really well, keeping the pressure on us every time we came out. Our bowlers [only] did well in patches. One positive was the intent from Mominul. He played spinners on the front foot as well as the back.”
Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal was delighted to have won the series 1-0, and said: “This was a really good series. The first game was a nightmare for the bowlers and this one was a nightmare for the batters. The guys executed our gameplans really well out in the middle.
“After the first game we thought the second pitch might be a turning wicket. We were surprised, because we have all the experienced spinners. Credit also goes to Roshen Silva who had an outstanding series – even Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya. Also all the bowlers.”
Silva was named Man of the Match and Man of the Series, and said: “First of all I want to thank the almighty God for helping Chandimal win the toss on this wicket. We batted first and the rest is history. I thought this wicket was difficult so I just wanted to keep it simple – I just played my normal game.
“I think one of the strength’s we have is the guys in the lower order never throw away their wickets. Even 20-30 runs is very valuable on this wicket. I hope and I pray that I can carry this forward for the rest of the career.”