NEW DELHI:
Dhananjaya de Silva
and
Kamindu Mendis
both notched their second centuries of the match as Sri Lanka set a formidable target of 511 runs for Bangladesh before pushing the hosts to the brink in the first Test on Sunday.
In the second innings at Sylhet, the visitors were all out for 418, with Mendis contributing 164 runs to his earlier 102 and De Silva, who also scored 102 in the first innings, adding 108 more.
Sri Lankan pacers initiated the push for victory immediately, reducing Bangladesh to 47-5 at stumps, leaving the hosts requiring a daunting 464 more runs for an unlikely win.
Vishwa Fernando
impressed with figures of 3-13, while
Kasun Rajitha
and
Lahiru Kumara
each claimed a wicket as Mahmudul Hasan (0), Najmul Hossain Shanto (6), Zakir Hasan (19), Shahadat Hossain (0), and
Liton Das
(0) all fell cheaply.
Bangladesh's batting woes contrasted starkly with the dominance displayed by de Silva and Mendis throughout the day, as they became only the third pair in Test history to score a century in both innings.
The Chappell brothers, Greg and Ian, of Australia achieved the feat against New Zealand in March 1974, before Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali emulated it against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
The pair, who shared 202 runs in Sri Lanka's first innings total of 280 runs, put on 173 runs together this time.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke their partnership, before finishing with 4-74 for Bangladesh.
Resuming on 119-5, the visitors lost nightwatchman Fernando (four) early to Khaled Ahmed, before de Silva and Mendis took control.
De Silva brought his second century into the game with a single off Mehidy, before he was dropped by Nahid Rana off Shoriful Islam on 101.
Mehidy ensured the drop did not hurt the team more, soon ending de Silva's innings, with Zakir taking the catch at short midwicket.
Mendis put away a full toss of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to bring his own hundred off 171.
Mehidy removed Prabath Jayasuriya, who made 25, and Lahiru Kumara off successive deliveries to give Bangladesh some relief.
Mehidy could have grabbed his fifth wicket if Liton Das did not drop Mendis on 133.
Mendis protected last man Rajitha to add 52 runs in the final wicket pair, piling misery on Bangladesh.
Mendis hit Taijul Islam for three sixes in an over to reach his 150 and help the lead exceed 500 runs.
Taijul dismissed Mendis finally to wrap up Sri Lanka's innings.
Sri Lanka have never lost a Test series to Bangladesh.
The second and final match of the series will be played in Chittagong from March 30.
(With AFP inputs)
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