Sri Lanka spinners turn the screw

Ajantha Mendis claimed 4-71 to help dismiss Bangladesh

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Sri Lanka took a stranglehold on the second Test in Bangladesh thanks to a spin masterclass from Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan.

The pair finished with figures of 4-71 and 3-62 respectively as the tourists established a 176-run first-innings lead on day two in Chittagong - an advantage that would have been even greater had the hosts not managed a 63-run 10th-wicket stand.

There was just time in the evening session for Sri Lanka to begin their second innings, with Malinda Warnapura and Prasanna Jayawardene successfully seeing out the first five overs as the visitors advanced to 13 without loss to extend their overall lead to 189.

Already 1-0 up in the two-match series, Sri Lanka resumed the day on 371 for six at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium, but had their tail wrapped up with four lbw decisions for the addition of just 13 runs this morning.

Chamara Kapugedera (96) was the first to go in the second over of the day having added only three to his score after he fell lbw to a Shakib Al Hasan delivery that kept low.

Mashrafe Mortaza took his third wicket with the next ball when Chaminda Vaas was hit on the pad in line with leg stump before Al Hasan dismissed Muralitharan for a duck in similar fashion to Kapugedera.

Al Hasan, who finished with figures of 4-109, then ended the innings on 384 when he trapped Dilhara Fernando in front with another one that kept low.

Bangladesh's response got off to a terrible start when Vaas accounted for Tamim Iqbal for nought in the first over as he got one to leave the opener and a thin edge was caught behind by wicketkeeper Jayawardene.

Muttiah Muralitharan played second fiddle to Mendis with three wickets © Getty Images

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Vaas struck again to leave the hosts 26 for two when he dismissed Imrul Kayes, lbw for six after the batsman did not offer a shot.

Raqibul Hasan had failed to score when he became Mendis' first victim, lbw, seven runs later.

Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Ashraful saw Bangladesh through to 51 for three at lunch, having made 22 and 13 respectively.

Siddique was beaten for pace by Fernando for 28 after the interval before Mendis took centre stage, claiming two lbws in successive deliveries to leave Bangladesh reeling on 90 for six.

First Mehrab Hossain Jr was trapped playing forward for 18 and then Al Hasan misjudged one playing back and was sent back to the pavilion for a duck.

Captain Ashraful plugged away valiantly for 45 but fell just before tea - caught behind by Jayawardene off the bowling of Muralitharan.

Mortaza's third Test fifty helped Bangladesh add a further 77 runs before they were all out for 208.

Mushfiqur Rahim was first to fall after tea, stumped by Jayawardene going down the track to Mendis for 21.

Wicketkeeper Jayawardene then snapped up Enamul Haque Jr off the bowling of Muralitharan for four to leave the home team 145 for nine.

The final-wicket partnership between Mortaza (63) and Shahadat Hossain (five not out) yielded 63 runs as the Sri Lanka bowlers were frustrated before spin king Muralitharan finished things off by having Mortaza caught at deep square leg by Tillakaratne Dilshan.