Colombo, September 22:

Sri Lanka crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 69 runs with more than two days to spare to sweep the Test series 2-0, with Chaminda Vaas and Rangana Herath each snaring three wickets. Forced to follow-on, Bangladesh resumed the third morning at 131/3, still trailing Sri Lanka by 135 runs after the hosts had made a formidable 457 for nine wickets declared.

Lankan bowlers tore thro-ugh the Bangladeshi lineup to dismiss the visitors for 197 to record their second victory by an innings for the series. Overnight batsman Mohammad Asharaful departed in the fourth over of the day when he edged a low-catch to Thilan Samaraweera at first slip off Vaas after scoring a watchful 26 off 80 balls.

Two overs later, night-watchman Shahadat Hossain misjudged the line and left a Vaas delivery which swung in and knocked tle right-hander’s off stump. Muttiah Muralitharan trapped Khaled Mashud lbw for 18 and left-arm spinner Herath returned to bowl Mohammad Rafique for 9 runs.

Vaas finished with 3-36 while Herath took 3-52. Dilhara Fernando also took two wickets to record his best Test performance ever with seven wickets for 95runs, surpassing his previous best of six wickets for 77 runs. Thilan Samaraweera, who scored 138 runs, was named man-of-the-match and Tillakaratne Dilshan was announced man-of-the-series. Sri Lanka won the first Test by an innings and 96 runs in Colombo last week.