Kusal Mendis counterattack cements Sri Lanka's advantage

Tea Bangladesh 247 and 31 for 1 (Shadman 12*, Asitha 1-15) trail Sri Lanka 458 (Nissanka 158, Chandimal 93, Mendis 84, Taijul 5-131) by 180 runs

A superb lower-order contribution from Kusal Mendis took Sri Lanka's lead over Bangladesh past 200 before Bangladesh finally closed out the innings after 117 overs. Mendis' charge was accelerated after the lunch break, managing the strike with the tail and picking off the bowling. While Taijul Islam did eventually mop up to complete a five-wicket haul, Sri Lanka had largely seen off the visitors' morning surge by then.

Sonal Dinusha didn't last long as the excellent Nayeem Hasan sliced through his defences, but it was frustrating eighth and ninth wicket partnerships that robbed Bangladesh of any momentum. Tharindu Ratnayake showed Mendis he could be trusted from one end, impressively getting off the mark with a heave off Taijul for six - his first runs in Test cricket. Mendis punished the spinners whenever they dropped short at the other end, getting to his half-century early in the session before continuing to build.

But Ratnayake fell into the trap Bangladesh laid, tempting him into another heave. This time Taijul went quicker, lower and flatter, and had protection at wide long-on, who completed a simple catch when the batter succumbed to the invitation.

Mendis took on a more proactive role farming the strike alongside Vishwa Fernando as he eyed up three figures. That, however, eventually brought his downfall as he hared back for a second run that wasn't there, a brilliant throw from Ebadot Hossain in the deep catching him well short of his crease.

The innings wrapped up later that over, giving Bangladesh an awkward seven overs to see out before tea. They looked to have done just that with a positive little partnership between Shadman Islam and Anamul Haque. However, off the last ball of the session, Anamul's eyes lit up at a short delivery, only to be beaten by the extra pace and bouce as he toe-ended it to short midwicket.

It was, as if Sri Lanka needed it, another clear reminder of who the session - and currently, the game - belong to.

In the morning, Taijul and Nahid Rana dragged Bangladesh back into contention as the two Mendises - Kamindu and Kusal - battled to hold on to the advantage Sri Lanka had established on the preceding day. After a first hour that the visitors dominated with three early wickets, a 49-run stand between the pair held Bangladesh at bay, taking Sri Lanka's lead into three figures and steadily building upon it. While off spinner Nayeem darted one through Kamindu to just about edge the session for his side, Sri Lanka's 154-run lead at lunch already threatened to have batted Bangladesh out of forcing a positive result.

Bangladesh were staring into the abyss at the start after toiling all of the second day for two measly wickets as Sri Lanka approached 300. Early in the morning, though, Pathum Nissanka, having crossed 150, chipped Taijul to short cover. As he shuffled off to a standing ovation, Bangladesh sensed the new day was bringing with it fresh hope.

Taijul ran an arm ball through Dhananjaya de Silva in his following over, and with Sri Lanka suddenly uncertain, Bangladesh prowled. Kamindu decided to break the shackles by taking the quick bowlers on, hitting two boundaries in Ebadot's over, and another two in Rana's. But Rana hit the hard length and drew an edge out of nightwatcher Prabath Jayasuriya to third slip, one Mehidy Hasan Miraz snaffled on his second attempt.

It brought Kusal to the crease, and he shared Kamindu's ideas about how to approach the innings. An entertaining passage of play followed as Sri Lanka tried to revert pressure back onto the bowlers while never quite looking convincing enough to pull clear. At one stage, an edge from Kamindu kissed off stump on its way to the boundary, incredibly without disturbing the bails.

However, Sri Lanka continued to build on their lead, and it wasn't until the partnership was one away from 50 that a wicket arrived. Nayeem fired one into the Kamindu that never turned, and snuck past his inside edge and deflected onto the stumps off his pads. It brought renewed hope for the visitors of running through Sri Lanka's lower order, but with Kusal holding firm, that never quite materialised.