Dilshan fires Sri Lanka to record Test win

Tillakaratne Dilshan gave a superb all-round performance to power Sri Lanka to a record 465-run victory over Bangladesh in the second and final Test here today.

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It was the fifth-largest win by runs in the history of the game. It was also Sri Lanka's biggest victory in 182 Tests and Bangladesh's worst defeat in 59 matches since gaining Test status in 2000.

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Dilshan scored an impressive 143 -- his second century of the match -- as the visitors set an improbable 624-run target for the hosts.

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Bangladesh were bundled out for 158 in their second innings on the penultimate day to lose the series 2-0.

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Dilshan, who picked 4-10 with his part-time spin, was named both man of the match and of the series.

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Middle-order batsman Shakib Al Hasan (46) and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim (43) were the main scorers in a dismal Bangladeshi batting performance lasting merely 49.2 overs.

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Dilshan was brilliantly backed by unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis who picked 3-57 to finish with a match haul of seven wickets.

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Mendis started the slide when he took three quick wickets in his opening spell, removing opener Imrul Kayes (five), Junaid Siddique (four) and Mohammad Ashraful (seven) to reduce the hosts to 62-5 at the tea break.

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Pacemen Dilhara Fernando and Chaminda Vaas grabbed a wicket apiece before the 32-year-old Dilshan finished the job in the closing session.

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Sri Lanka earlier declared their second innings at their lunch score of 447-6, built around Dilshan's 175-ball effort, which was studded with 14 fours and a six.

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Dilshan, who top-scored with 162 in the first innings, became the fourth Sri Lankan to score two hundreds in a match after Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha and Aravinda de Silva.

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Dilshan, 81 overnight, dominated the morning session with his aggressive batting to virtually put the match beyond Bangladesh's reach. He was the sixth man out, bowled by left-arm spinner Enamul Haque.

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Thilan Samaraweera was the first to go, adding only five runs to his overnight score of 72. He shared a 145-run stand for the fifth wicket with Dilshan.

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Chamara Kapugedera also joined the run feast, making 59 off 92 balls with three sixes and a four.

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Bangladesh have now lost 52 of their 59 Tests, with six draws and a lone victory against lowly Zimbabwe.

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