Jayasuriya’s Five-For Seals Dominant Test Victory for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka wrapped up a commanding series victory over Bangladesh on Saturday morning, needing just 28 minutes to secure an innings and 78-run win at the SSC in Colombo. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed his 12th Test five-for, finishing with figures of 5-56 to bowl out Bangladesh for 133 in their second innings.
The hosts’ ninth innings victory over Bangladesh gave them a 1-0 series win and crucial World Test Championship points. Jayasuriya’s match-winning spell came after Sri Lanka had posted a mammoth 458 in their first innings, built on Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant 158.
Quick Work on Day Four
It took Jayasuriya just three deliveries to make his mark on the final morning. Litton Das edged a forward defence to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who took a sharp catch despite nursing a sore shoulder from the previous day. The spinner then foxed Nayeem Hasan with a delivery that dipped and turned, leaving the batsman stranded out of his crease for Mendis to whip off the bails.
Jayasuriya completed his five-wicket haul by taking a return catch to his right, as Taijul Islam got a leading edge attempting to work one through midwicket. Tharindu Ratnayake wrapped things up in the next over, trapping Ebadot Hossain lbw as Bangladesh folded 34 balls into the morning session.
The comprehensive victory was set up by Sri Lanka’s dominant first innings batting display. After bowling out Bangladesh for 247, the hosts piled on 458 with Nissanka leading the way with a masterful 158. Dinesh Chandimal contributed 93 while Kusal Mendis added a quickfire 84 to extend Sri Lanka’s lead.
Series Dominance and Individual Brilliance
Nine wickets fell to spin in Bangladesh’s second innings, with Jayasuriya leading the charge alongside Dhananjaya de Silva and Ratnayake, who shared four wickets between them. It marked a welcome return to form for Jayasuriya, who had gone wicketless in the first innings and managed just one scalp in the series opener at Galle.
Despite the spinners’ heroics, it was opener Pathum Nissanka who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. His 158 in this Test followed a magnificent 187 in Galle, establishing him as the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva praised his team’s clinical performance and highlighted the importance of WTC points. “The WTC is like other World Cups – a lot of matches are like knockouts for us,” he said. “We need those wins to get extra points.”
The victory came as a double blow for Bangladesh, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto announcing his resignation from Test captaincy immediately after the match. Shanto cited the team’s poor first innings batting as the main reason for their defeat, with Bangladesh managing just 247 despite winning the toss and choosing to bat first.
With this emphatic win, Sri Lanka have started their new WTC cycle on a positive note, though they won’t play Test cricket again until May next year. For now, they can savour a dominant performance that showcased their spin bowling prowess and batting depth in home conditions.
