Bangladesh on brink of Test defeat at lunch on day 4

Mirpur: Dilruwan Perera claimed three wickets as Sri Lanka reduced Bangladesh to 150-6 on the fourth morning Thursday and moved closer to a seemingly inevitable win in the first test.

Perera (3-47) dismissed Bangladesh's three key batsmen, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim as the home side went to lunch requiring a near impossible 348 runs to bat Sri Lanka again in the match.

After Bangladesh resumed the day on 35-1, Mominul made 50 while Shakib scored 25. Mushfiqur was dismissed off the last ball before lunch. Nasir Hossain was not out on 11 at the break.

Sri Lanka's fast bowlers intimidated the Bangladesh batsmen by peppering a barrage of short balls similar to their tactics of the first innings. The Bangladesh batsmen did not help their cause by trying to chase every delivery instead of showing the patience needed at this level.

Shaminda Eranga claimed overnight batsman Shamsur Rahman in the first over of the day with a short-pitch delivery before Suranga Lakmal took the wicket of Marshall Ayub shortly after leaving Shakib and Mominul to dig in deep.

Sri Lanka declared its first innings on 730-6, taking a mammoth lead of 498 in response to Bangladesh's first innings reply of 232.