Tharanga's fifty lifts faltering Sri Lankans

BOGRA, Bangladesh, Mar 9 (Reuters) Opener Upul Tharanga struck his maiden test half-century as Sri Lanka reached 121 for four at lunch on the second day of the second and final test against Bangladesh today.

Resuming on their overnight score of 25 for 2, 209 runs behind the hosts, Sri Lanka soon lost Thilan Samaraweera (20) and Kumar Sangakkara for a duck to the pace of Shahadat Hossein to fall to 43 for four.

But Tharanga and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (34no) took the tourists to the lunch interval without further loss at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium.

On the first day, Muttiah Muralitharan took 5-79 as Bangladesh were dismissed for 234. Sri Lanka won the first test in Chittagong by eight wickets.

REUTERS PDS PM1225