Close Bangladesh 164 and 103 for 4 need another 370 runs to beat Sri Lanka 373 and 263 for 2 dec (Vandort 140)
scorecard

Michael Vandort slammed his maiden Test century as Sri Lanka edged ever closer to their tenth successive victory on home soil. By the close of the third day at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Bangladesh had reached 103 for 4, with Mohammad Ashraful holding the innings together with 31 not out.

The day, however, belonged to Vandort, who cracked 140 in 185 balls as Sri Lanka declared at their teatime score of 263 for 2. Chasing an utterly improbable 473 for victory, Bangladesh slumped to 40 for 3 in the tenth over, before mounting a recovery of sorts.

Vandort, one of seven second-string players selected for the match, made the most of the opportunity with a quality innings, driving and cutting firmly on the way to his well-deserved hundred. He celebrated by raising his cap and bat after reaching his century with two runs to fine leg off Habibul Bashar in the post-lunch session. He struck one six and 16 fours. Vandort was eventually bowled in the closing overs of the session, beaten by a slower one from seamer Talha Jubair.

Naveed Nawaz, a failure in the one-day series against England, also made merry, remaining unbeaten with 78 on debut in a 172-run stand for the second wicket with Vandort.

Bangladesh made just one breakthrough in the morning session, when Jehan Mubarak was run out by Tapash Baisya for 31, after adding 80 runs for the first wicket with Vandort.

Sri Lanka won the opening Test by a record innings and 196 runs, and are firmly on course to make it an unlucky 13th for Bangladesh, who have managed a solitary draw in 12 matches since gaining Test status in 2000.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd