COLOMBO (Reuters)
Bangladesh face another huge innings defeat in the Asian Test Championship after Sri Lanka made 555 for 5 declared. Offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan then helped reduce Bangladesh to 100 for 4 by the close of play on the second day. Muralitharan took another three wickets to go with his five in the first innings and leave Bangladesh still 365 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat. Sri Lanka's huge score was thanks mainly to vice-captain Marvan Atapattu, who hit an unbeaten 201 before retiring, and Mahela Jayawardene, who also retired after making 150. Atapattu, who was dropped twice on the opening day, hit 27 fours in his double-century to leave Sri Lanka in total command. He has now hit eight Test centuries and has managed to turn five of those into doubles - a remarkable transformation from the start of his career when he made five ducks in his first six innings. Only Australian great Donald Bradman, with 12, England's Walter Hammond (seven) and Pakistan's Javed Miandad (six) have hit more double-centuries in Tests. Sri Lanka declared at tea and Bangladesh quickly ran into trouble as Muralitharan removed opener Mehrab Hussain - caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara - in the 13th over. And four overs later Murali trapped Javed Omar leg before. Thilan Samaraweera made his contribution by taking the wicket of Al Sahariar, also lbw. Muralitharan then struck again, when Habibul Bashar edged a catch to Jayawardene. Muralitharan took 5 for 13 in just under 10 overs in the first innings.

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