Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ripped through Bangladesh’s batting line-up on the opening day of the second Test in Bogra, Bangladesh on Wednesday.
The off-spinner snared four scalps as Bangladesh were left tottering on 188-6 at tea after electing to bat. Khaled Mashud (six) and Mohammad Rafique (one) were the not out batsmen at the break.
Muralitharan, who passed the milestone of 1 000 international wickets in the first Test in Chittagong last week, was back in action after tormenting the home side in the opening match.
Three of Muralitharan’s victims were trapped lbw, while captain Habibul Bashar (69) was caught bat-pad by Upul Tharanga at silly mid-off.
Bashar struck seven fours during his 120-ball knock but failed to get support from other batsmen.
Earlier, openers Javed Omar (35) and Nafees Iqbal (26) put on 52 runs before both fell to Muralitharan, who continued the fine form that got him 6-54 in the second innings in Chittagong for a match haul of nine wickets.
Muralitharan also dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim (two) while paceman Lasith Malinga and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara chipped in with a scalp each.
Sri Lanka, who won the opening Test by eight wickets, retained an unchanged side. Bangladesh made one change by bringing in Rahim for Alok Kapali.
Sri Lanka had won the preceding one-day series 2-1. — Sapa-AFP