Russel Arnold and Tillakaratne Dilshan rescued the innings after Sri Lanka had slipped to 115 for four, adding 100 runs in 106 balls, saving the hosts from potential embarrassment.

They finished with 258 runs from their allotted 50 overs, meaning Bangladesh would need to break a 49-game venue record to win the match – the highest total ever chased successfully at Premadasa being 243 by India in 1997/8.

Arnold, who saw Sri Lanka to victory in the first match of the series but didn’t bat in the second, ensured he will travel to Morocco in good form, scoring 62 from 64 balls, including four fours.

During the early of his innings, the left-hander played a supporting role to the right-handed Dilshan, who scored his second one-day half-century.

Dilshan, fighting for a permanent place in the one-side, was particularly impressive against the spin bowlers, scoring 50 from 63 balls.

However, the very next ball after reaching fifty, he pulled a short delivery from part-time leg-spinner Mohammad Ashraful straight to deep midwicket.

Arnold then marshaled Sri Lanka through the final overs, adding runs for the sixth wicket with the powerful Hasantha Fernando.

Fernando, being groomed as an all-rounder for the World Cup, gave a glimpse of his hard-hitting potential, smashing 23 from 21 balls.

The 22-year-old right-hander played one remarkable shot – a back foot pull off Mahmud that soared over mid on.

Arnold was eventually dismissed in the 49th over when, much to his chagrin, umpire Steve Bucknor adjudged him to have touched an attempted leg-side sweep.

Fernando and Upul Chandana then scored 10 runs in the final over.

Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene had been caught behind for 16 off medium pacer Khaled Mahmud, who had bowled a tight spell in the middle of the innings.

However, he received some punishment when he returned in the final overs, finishing with three for 51 from his 10 overs.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Raffique was Bangladesh’s most economical bowler, conceding just 32 runs from his 10 overs.

The hosts, looking for a series whitewash before they leave for the Morocco Cup 2002 early Friday morning, were 114 for three after 25 overs.

Aravinda de Silva, promoted as opener in the absence of Sanath Jayasuriya, had held the innings together with 46 from 58 balls that included five fours and one trademark swivel-pull for six.

The veteran right-hander was fortunate to survive a perilously close call for a run out when he had made just eight, the television umpire giving him the benefit of doubt after a succession of replays.

He was also missed on 43 when Mohammad Raffique was unable to collect a wild return from deep cover.

But the fumble was not costly - De Silva was dismissed the following over, the 25th of the innings, as he cut a short ball from medium pacer Khaled Mahmud straight to point.

Mahela Jayawardene was 16 not out having just been joined at the crease by Russel Arnold.

Stand in captain Marvan Atapattu (20) was the first to be dismissed as he flicked a delivery from Tapash Baisya straight to short mid-wicket.

At Premadasa, the batting side usually tries especially hard to capitalise on the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs, when run scoring is eased by the vacant spaces and hard ball, but Sri Lanka were constrained by a slow pitch and tight bowling.

Left-arm seamer Monjural Islam was the pick of the early bowlers, completing an economical seven over spell from the Scoreboard End before returning to complete his full quota from the Khettarama End.

De Silva and Sangakkara added 43 runs in 51 balls before the left-handed Sangakkara, trying to force the pace of the innings, played on to his stumps as he charged down the wicket to Islam.

Sangakkara had scored 22 from 32 balls, hitting three boundaries.

De Silva and Jayawardene then added 36 runs from 54 balls before De Silva was caught at cover point.

Sri Lanka would not have minded losing the toss – they would have batted anyway had they won on a pitch that is best for batting in the first innings.

Bangladesh made one change to the side that lost by eight wickets on Monday, including Test opener Hannan Sarkar in place of former captain Naimur Rahman.

Sri Lanka rested captain skipper Sanath Jayasuriya and both their opening bowlers, Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando, who were instead given a strenuous workout before the match start.

In came fast bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne, who was making his debut, wicket-keeper batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamila Gamage, who played in the opening match of the series. Should Bangladesh lose today, it will be their 50th defeat in 53 One Day Internationals.

Sri Lanka:

Marvan Atapattu (Capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jaywardene, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Hasantha Fernando, Chamila Lakshitha Gamage, Muttiah Muralitharan, Pulasthi Gunaratne

Bangladesh:

Khaled Mashud (capt), Habibul Bashar, Al Sahariar, Hannan Sarkar, Mohamed Ashraful, Manjural Islam, Tushar Imran, Khaled Mahmud, Mohammad Raffique, Tapash Baisya, Alok Kapali