BAN VS SL TESTS

Right then, that is all we have from this Test match and also from the series as well. Over the two Test matches, we have seen two very closely matched sides go head-to-head but in the end, it was Sri Lanka who put on a real team effort in the second Test match to set up an away series win. Hope you enjoyed the coverage but there's plenty of cricketing action going on all around the globe that you can enjoy by just switching tabs. Until next time, goodbye and take care!

Dimuth Karunaratne, the captain of the victorious Sri Lankan team goes over to lift the trophy along with his team and they pose for a team photograph as well!! Joyous scenes in the Lankan camp.

The winning captain, Dimuth Karunaratne now joins in for a chat. He says that they knew they needed a couple of wickets on Day 5 to bundle out the opposition and just like the first innings, the pacers bowled excellently well. On being asked about the spinners, he says that yes he is disappointed and would have liked to see more wickets from them but they are young and inexperienced and have a long way to go. Adds that they have a couple of important tours coming up and this victory will help them gain some momentum. Ends by dedicating the victory to all the fans back home as they are facing a tough time.

Angelo Mathews is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his knocks of 199 and 145 in the series. He says there's nothing better to get Test centuries and a Test win. The bowlers did make him work hard for his runs. Mentions that it's difficult to compare the test match at Chattogram to this one at Mirpur. The wicket was flatter in Chattogram and the wicket here at Mirpur had something for the bowlers as well. Concludes by saying that it was a brilliant effort by the pace bowlers and that they are feeling very confident for their next series.

Asitha Fernando is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning figures of 10 for 144, the third-best figures for a Lankan pacer in a Test match! Fernando says that firstly there was a bit of grass which helped the seamers and later in the match, they just tried to keep the ball in the good areas and that helped them. Mentions that Kasun Rajitha helped him a lot from the other end and it was a combined effort as they executed their plans well. The assistant coach who is translating for Fernando says that he isn't helping the bowlers but there is a bowling coach who is working with the bowlers.

The skipper of Bangladesh, Mominul Haque says that it has been a disappointing series. Adds they have to work on their top-order, but the knocks of Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das were some positives to take from this game. States that Test cricket is all about being mentally strong and they will have to try and be strong in the upcoming games. Says that they need to be able to handle pressure in such situations and they will work on the same and they will look after their pacers as well for the upcoming tour to the West Indies.

The presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, on a pitch that looked good for the slower bowlers, Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando made good use of the fresh pitch and had the hosts on the back foot at 24/5. It was then a mammoth stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das that got Bangladesh to a good first-innings total of 365. Sri Lanka then came out to bat and the skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne led from the front but they had trouble midway through the innings as Shakib Al Hasan and Ebadot Hossain were impressive with the ball. The experienced pair of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal then showed their class and got the visitors to a big total of 506 runs. There was rain on Day 3 but in the end, it did not affect the match as once again in the second innings the Lankan pacers were in the zone. They had the hosts at 53/5 and after facing some resistance, they bundled them out for 169. Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando ended up with 17 wickets between them. Sri Lanka came out and within just 3 overs got the job done to seal a memorable series win. Stay tuned for the post-match presentation...

Bangladesh will look back at this game and feel it was their top order that let them down big time. This has now become a trend for them this year, getting 4 or 5 wickets down with the score being around just 50 runs and that in a Test match is a cardinal sin. The middle-order of both teams was solid, with Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das notching up tons in the first innings and then Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal matching them if not doing better. But Sri Lanka got a big first-innings lead because their openers gave them a good start and that proved to be decisive.

What a victory here for Sri Lanka! They have outplayed the hosts in the Test match and have gone on to win the two-match series 1-0 and improve upon their record in Bangladesh. When the toss happened, it felt like Bangladesh had the edge and with the pitch likely to slow down in the final couple of days, the visitors were up against it. But they have been able to find a way and credit goes to their pacers who, on a pitch that suited the slower bowlers have just been magnificent. Sri Lanka grab 12 crucial points to move up above Pakistan in the 2021-23 World Test Championship table and are now up to 4th position. Positive signs for Chris Silverwood who begins his journey as the Sri Lankan head coach with a victory.

There it is! Oshada Fernando hits the winning runs! A fuller ball, outside off. Oshada Fernando drives it through cover and takes a single. Sri Lanka win the match by 10 wickets and seal the series 1-0!

Bye! Ebadot Hossain drops it short now, down the leg side. Dimuth Karunaratne leaves it alone. The keeper does well to get his gloves to it but he fails to grab it. The ball rolls towards fine leg and the batters sneak in a bye. The scores are now level!

Angling in around middle and leg, on a length. Dimuth Karunaratne tucks it towards the fielder at mid-wicket.

Another fuller ball, shaping away, wide of off. Dimuth Karunaratne lets that go through to the keeper.

Angling away, fuller ball, wide of off. Dimuth Karunaratne leaves it alone.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Ebadot Hossain begins with a fuller ball, wide of off. Dimuth Karunaratne lunges forward and drives it past point for a boundary. 2 needed now.

Fuller, around middle. Oshada Fernando defends it out.