Sri Lanka push for victory on day 5

CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka closed on victory by reducing Bangladesh to 91-2 at lunch on Saturday´s final day of the second test.

Bangladesh openers Shamsur Rahman and Tamim Iqbal shared a 71-run opening stand as the hosts chased an unrealistic total of 467 to win; raising hopes of forcing a draw.

Both were bowled in quick succession after their patient stand, with Kithuruwan Vithanage and Dilruwan Perera making the breakthroughs.

At lunch, Mominul Haque and Imrul Kayes were batting on 4 and 2 runs respectively.

On a testing fifth-day pitch, Rahman and Tamim denied Sri Lanka bowlers any breakthrough in the first hour, showing impressive determination to stall Sri Lanka´s victory push.

Sri Lanka bowlers eventually made the breakthroughs by cleverly using the rough.

Vithanage made a delivery turn sharply to bowl Tamim who looked to drive forward. Tamim, who got a duck in the first innings, faced 102 balls for his 31.

Perera got belated reward for his good bowling throughout the session when his flighted delivery tempted Shamsur (45) forward, with the turn finding the inside edge of the bat and clipping off a bail.

Sri Lanka´s push for victory was set up by Kumar Sangakkara, who became only the second man in the history of Test cricket to score a triple-century and a century in the same game. (AP)