A no-contest in Colombo

A battered and bruised Bangladesh managed to see off the last 3 overs of the day but could not escape humiliation in day two of the first Test in Colombo today. An innings defeat is looming as Bangladesh are trailing by 485 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the second innings at stumps.

Vaas en route to his maiden Test century after 92 Tests © Cricinfo

Bangladesh managed to show some promise in the first session of the days play as they picked three wickets and reduced Sri Lanka from 304-3 to 354-6, but an unbroken 223 run partnership between Prasanna Jayawardane and Chaminda Vaas left Bangladesh bleeding in the Sri Lankan capital. Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful used eight bowlers to break the partnership which only saw a futile end.

Both Jayawardne and Vaas have registered their maiden Test century, and Sri Lanka eventually declared at 577 for 6 taking a mammoth 488 run lead in the first innings.

A dead track and a showery weather forecast won't be enough to prevent complete mortification in the Test match unless Bangladeshi batsmen learn the patience and grittiness displayed by their Sri Lankan counterpart.

Bangladeshi batsmen have to come out of their reputation to deny Sri Lankan bowlers who have got the ability to inject life on the comatose pitch of Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.