CHITTAGONG (Bangladesh), Jan 5: Tillekeratne Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera smashed unbeaten half-centuries to put Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat on the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh here on Monday.

Dilshan, who top-scored with 162 in the first innings, hit 81 while Samaraweera scored 72 as the visitors reached 296-4 in their second innings at close for a massive overall lead of 472 runs.

Kumar Sangakkara also played a vital knock of 54 to tighten the screws on the hosts, who had scored 208 in their first essay in reply to Sri Lanka’s 384.

The day’s final session belonged clearly to Sri Lanka with their batsmen adding 109 runs without losing any wicket.

Dilshan, dropped on 55 off Mashrafe Mortaza, hit nine fours in his 114-ball knock and dominated the 131-run unbroken stand for the fifth wicket with Samaraweera.

“I think a lead of 400 runs is safe as the wicket is very difficult. It’s not easy to play shots here. You have to bat very straight from the start to the end,” Samaraweera told reporters.

“[But] we are still batting as I think our bowlers need a lot of rest. They bowled 80 odd overs in the first innings and [Muttiah] Muralitharan bowled 70 odd overs in the first Test also,” he added.

Sangakkara initially paved the way for the middle-order with his sensible 103-ball effort containing four fours.

He reached his 28th Test half-century with a pulled four to the midwicket before playing on to his stumps off part-time spinner and Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful (2-29).

Sangakkara also shared a 68-run stand for the third wicket with skipper Mahela Jayawardene after the visitors had lost both their openers with 55 on board.

The prolific Sri Lankan captain failed with the bat in his 100th Test, tamely chipping left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr to short cover after making 22 off as many as 92 balls. He had scored 11 in Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 384.

The day’s first wicket fell when makeshift opener Prasanna Jayawardene offered a catch off Ashraful to Shakib Al Hasan at short midwicket for 27.

Paceman Shahadat Hossain then removed the other opening batsman Malinda Warnapura (28) two balls later, umpire Nigel Llong adjudging the batsman leg before wicket.

Sri Lanka lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the opening game in Dhaka by 107 runs.

Bangladesh have lost 51 of their 58 Tests so far, with six draws and a lone victory against lowly Zimbabwe.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 384 (T.M. Dilshan 162, C.K. Kapugedera 96, B.S.M. Warnapura 63; Shakib Al Hasan 4-109).

BANGLADESH (1st Innings) 208 (Mashrafe Mortaza 63; B.A.W. Mendis 4-71).

SRI LANKA (2nd Innings, overnight 13-0):

B.M.M. Warnapura lbw b Shahadat 27

P. Jayawardene c Shakib b Ashraful 28

K.C. Sangakkara b Ashraful 54

M. Jayawardene c Imrul b Enamul 22

T.T. Samaraweera not out 72

T.M. Dilshan not out 81

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-2, W-3, NB-5) 12

TOTAL (for four wkts, 95 overs) 296

FALL OF WKTS: 1-55, 2-55, 3-123, 4-165.

BOWLING (to-date): Mashrafe Mortaza 15-3-53-0; Shahadat Hossain 23-2-67-1 (1nb, 2w); Shakib Al Hasan 12-1-39-0 (1nb); Enamul Haque Jr 25.5-1-66-1 (3nb, 1w); Mohammad Ashraful 11.1-1-29-2; Mehrab Hossain Jr 7-0-35-0; Raqibul Hasan 1-0-3-0.—Agencies