Sri Lanka on top despite rain

Cricket fans were treated to another rain-hampered day today, as only 28.3 overs were bowled in 137 minutes of play. When the play started, Bangladesh were able to navigate the first six overs successfully, taking their overnight score of 72/4 to 98/4 before Tushar Imran edged one to second slip.

Five overs later, Bangladesh batsmen proved they still had not learned Test temperament, as Mohammad Ashraful edged one to Jayawardane while going an ill-advised cover drive. The collapse after that was predictable, as the next four wickets fell in just five overs. Muralitharan got rid of Mortaza in the 42nd over with a beautiful catch off his own bowling, and in the 46th over, took another catch off his own bowling to dismiss Mohammad Rafique.

At that point, Sri Lanka were into the tail of the Bangladeshis and Muralitharan completed his five-for when he got Shahadat Hossain only four balls later as he edged one onto his pads and into the hands of Dilshan. In his next over, he finished up the tail by taking removing Chamara Silva and taking his 694th test wicket. Bangladesh only managed to add 59 runs for the last six wickets, and they ended up with 131 as their first innings score.

Several rain interruptions later, Sri Lanka opened the batting with Tharanga and Vandort adding 30 runs in 8 overs before the play ended for the day due to bad light.

Bangladesh 131
Shahriar Nafees 29, Mohammad Ashraful 26
Muttiah Muralitharan 6-28, Sujeewa de Silva 2-29

Sri Lanka 30/0
Michael Vandort 25*, Upul Tharanga 4*

Sri Lanka trail by 101 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 1st innings