Bangladesh lost five wickets for 177 runs at the end of the fourth day in Kandy Sunday while chasing 437 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Ramesh Mendis and 22-year-old Praveen Jayawickrama, bagged three and two wickets to keep Bangladesh at bay. The Tigers will have to score 260 runs on the fifth day of the match to win the game or bat for the entire day to save it at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

All the Bangladeshi batters, who have already been dismissed, made a good start to their innings but failed to carry on against the quality spin of the hosts.

Sri Lanka declared their second innings on 194 for nine securing a lead of 436 runs. Dimuth Karunarate scored 66 for the hosts as Taijul Islam took five wickets for the Tigers.

Also read: Sri Lanka set 437 for Bangladesh to win in Kandy

Bangladesh needed to make a good start to their second innings. But Tamim Iqbal managed to post 24 runs only. Saif Hassan, who has failed to shine in this series so far, scored 34.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim also made a good start, scoring 26, 32, and 40 each, but none of them could fight back the Lankan spinners.

At the end of the day, Bangladesh were batting at 177 for five with Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz unbeaten on 14 and 4.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a mammoth total of 493 runs for seven in their first innings, riding on Dimuth Karunarate (118), Lahiru Thirimanne (140), and Oshada Fernando (81). Niroshan Dickwella, the wicketkeeper-batsman, remained not-out for 77.

Read Also: Sri Lanka stretch lead over 400 as Bangladesh in more trouble

Taskin Ahmed was the best bowler for Bangladesh taking four wickets for 127 runs, his best bowling figure in Tests.

In reply to Sri Lanka's first innings, Bangladesh were bundled out for only 251 runs despite a 90 from Tamim Iqbal. Most of the batters had a good start but they failed to come up with the big innings.

Mominul Haque perished on 49 and Mushfiqur Rahim scored 40, although the onus was on them to propel the Tigers to a safe position in this game.

Praveen, who got the chance to play this game due to injuries or off-form other spinners, bagged six wickets conceding 92 runs, the best bowling figure for a Sri Lankan debutant in Tests.