Mendis leaves Bangladesh in spin in Sri Lanka Test

Ajantha Mendis picked two wickets in two balls as Bangladesh struggled to 131-7 at tea on the second day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka here on Sunday.

The off-spinner trapped Mehrab Hossain (18) and the in-form Shakib Al Hasan leg before for a first-ball duck to undermine Bangladesh's reply to the visitors' first innings total of 384.

Mendis, who enjoyed a sensational debut against India last year picking 26 wickets from three Tests, also got able support from his spin partner Muttiah Muralitharan.

The veteran bowler brought to an end a spirited resistance by Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful who flayed him for a six and two fours in an over.

Ashraful scored 45 off 100 balls before edging one behind to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Mushfiqur Rahim was batting on 14 with Mashrafe Mortaza on four at the break.

Earlier Chaminda Vaas dismissed both the openers to deny Bangladesh a strong start in their first innings.

The fast bowler removed Tamim Iqbal for a duck in the opening over and trapped Imrul Kayes leg before for six, Bangladesh slipping to a precarious 26-2.

Mendis picked the third Bangladeshi wicket to fall in the morning when Raqibul Hasan failed to read a straighter one from the bowler and was adjudged leg before.

Bangladesh's batsmen failed to build on the good work of their bowlers who dismissed the visitors after they had added just 13 runs to their overnight total of 371-6.

Shakib Al Hasan picked three of the four remaining wickets to finish with 4-109.

Sri Lanka lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Dhaka by 107 runs.