SL VS BAN - 1st Test, Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka, 2017

So, Sri Lanka go one-up. Not much of a surprise on paper but some sort of a dampener in the proceedings given how tantalizingly well the game was poised in the morning. Colombo now beckons and it is said to be five rain free days waiting for us. All to play for. On behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Vineet Anantharaman and Sri Krishna it is a wrap for the day. Ta ta!!

Herath: "(On his bowling record) It is a big achievement. I would like to thank every person behind me, my family, support staff. The pitch still looks like a batting track. There is no problem in our combination and we did really well all around. Kusal did play really well and I would like to congratulate all the boys for this feat. Enjoying my captaincy at the moment and getting a lot of help from the boys."

Rahim: "The wicket was pretty good to bat on in the first innings. Even now it doesn't look like a day five wicket and is playing really well. The difference was when we gave away a 182-run lead and we missed out in the first innings. The bowlers did an okay job but we gave away many easy boundaries. I thought the first session was very crucial but we lost five wickets. Hopefully we would be back strongly and gear up for the next match. If the bowlers bowl in the right areas there was some help for them, bowling that no-ball to Kusal Mendis wasn't helpful and he went on to score 194. Hopefully we would come up with a few new plans and execute them better the next time around. They certainly deserve to win this one. In the end I would like to congratulate Herath for his record and we were outplayed in all the three departments."

Kusal Mendis is the Man of the Match for his brilliant century

The legend of the spin wizard continues to write itself. It for sure has ventured into territories even the most optimistic of fantasy writers would have imagined. Rangana Herath 2.0. Having spent a majority of his younger days carrying drinks and warming the benches, now as the skipper of his side writes himself into the record books. In 34 lesser Tests, he overtakes Daniel Vettori to become the highest wicket taker among left arm tweakers. Hang in there, the presentations coming our way..

Some win this. Bangladesh once again associating themselves with fifth day collapses. The syndrome seems to have seeped on from New Zealand to some extent in India and now plays itself all over again at Galle. A ground where Sri Lanka only intensify their stranglehold. 17 wins in 29 matches. Phew. The build up to the day seemed so very promising - the overnight batsmen had batted with so much intent yesterday but the very first ball from the part timer Asela set the tone for the day. Before the wily old Herath spun his web and got to yet another fifer. So all in all, just a normal day in office for him.

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, out Caught by Lahiru Kumara!! Herath has six and Sri Lanka win by 259 runs. He gave this one plenty of air, Mehedi saw the opportunity to get some runs, made room and was looking to lift it over the in field, doesn't get off the middle of the bat, ends up tamely driving it in the air and just over mid-off. Kumara ran back and holds on to an easy catch. This is Sri Lanka's 17th Test win at this venue - Galle - the fortress. Mehedi Hasan c Lahiru Kumara b Herath 28(48) [4s-3 6s-1]

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, no run, tossed up just outside off, Mehedi gets well forward and defends

Dilruwan Perera to Subashis Roy, no run, fraction shorter and just outside off, Subashis gets behind the line and pushes it towards the off-side

Dilruwan Perera to Mehedi Hasan, 1 run, tossed up on Mehedi's pads, nudged away in front of square on the on-side for a single

Dilruwan Perera to Mehedi Hasan, no run, flighted outside off, Mehedi stays back and pushes it towards the off-side

Dilruwan Perera to Mehedi Hasan, no run, the slider from Dilruwan, kept going with the angle and beat the angled bat of Mehedi - he was looking to drive and missed

Dilruwan Perera to Mehedi Hasan, no run, pushed through on off, Mehedi goes right back as he blocks

Dilruwan Perera to Mehedi Hasan, no run, tossed up on the stumps, Mehedi goes back and blocks

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, 1 run, flatter and on Mehedi's pads, clipped away past the diving mid-wicket fielder, he will keep strike with that run

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, no run, lovely ball from Herath, pitched on the leg-stump line and turned across Mehedi, he was prodding forward and gets a soft edge towards slip

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, no run, flighted delivery on the stumps, Mehedi gets his bat in front of the pads and blocks

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, no run, tossed up wider outside off, Mehedi drives it square on the off-side and refuses the single

Herath to Mehedi Hasan, no run, slower and just outside off, Mehedi prods forward in defence