ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka boosted its chances of reaching next year’s ICC World Cup final with a 192-run win over Bangladesh in the second test in Chattogram.
The Asian side won the opening session on the fifth day of the final Test of the two-match series, with Bangladesh’s last man Khalid Ahmed falling at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium as Sri Lanka cruised to a 2-0 series victory. sweep
The win saw Sri Lanka leapfrog Pakistan into fourth place in the revised World Test Cup with 50 percent, ahead of India (first), Australia (second) and New Zealand (third).
Sri Lanka still has two home series for this cycle, against New Zealand later this year, and two more home Tests against Australia in early 2025.
Their next task is a three-match series in England starting in August, and the island nation will go into the tournament full of confidence after their impressive win over Bangladesh.
Mendis scored an unbeaten 92 as Sri Lanka posted a total of 531, and the bowlers were quick to support their cause by restricting Bangladesh to just 178 in reply.
Fast bowler Asitha Fernando took the Sri Lankan bowlers with four wickets in the first innings, while fellow pacer Lahiru Kumara took a four-wicket haul to help them win the second innings.
Bangladesh have dropped to seventh place in the updated World Cup rankings, with their next series traveling to Pakistan later this year for two Test matches.
