Two wickets late on gave Bangladesh a massive boost in this interesting Test at the Sinhalese Sports Ground, featuring three debutants on each side.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya hit an entertaining 85 off 84 balls, batting down the order at number five.

But when he fell in the 72nd over of the day when the score was 260-4, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 38.

Bangladesh skipper Khaled Mashud won the toss and elected to field first but had to wait until the 16th over for a wicket.

Mubarak's first wicket

It finally came when Jehan Mubarak, in his first Test, fell lbw to another debutant, 19-year-old seamer Tupash Baisya.

Shortly after lunch, Naveed Nawaz was caught behind off the spinner Fahim Muntasir for 21.

Opener Michael Vandort (61) and Hashan Tillakaratne (18) put on 41 for the third wicket before both fell in consecutive overs.

Vandort was lbw to yet another debutant, 18-year-old leg break bowler Alok Kapali, while Tillakaratne was caught and bowled by Muntasir.

Jayasuriya and Thilan Samararweera (58) then put on 127 for the fifth wicket.

Islam strikes

But left-arm seamer Manjural Islam then dismissed Jayasuriya and Prasanna Jayawardene twice in one over.

Samaraweera and Upul Chandana tried to steady the ship but both fell before the close.

Chandana mis-read Kapail's googly to be caught at extra cover for 20 before Samaraweera gave Islam his third wicket by edging a cut to cover.

Jayasuriya and Sri Lankan Sports Minister Johnston Fernando had pleaded with the selectors to include Muttiah Muralitharan but the celebrated off-spinner was left out.

Also omitted were vice-captain Marvan Attapattu and veteran Aravinda de Silva, who scored 206 in the first Test as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by an innings and 196 runs within three days.

Bangladesh have yet to win a Test since their debut two years ago with 11 defeats and one draw in 12 matches.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Jehan Mubarak, Michael Vandort, Naveed Nawaz, Thilan Samaraweera, Prasana Jayawardena, Upul Chandana, Hashan Tillakaratne, Buddika Fernando, Sujeeva de Silva, Chamila Gamage.

Bangladesh: Khaled Mashud (captain), Habibul Bashar, Al-Sahariar, Tushar Imran, Fahim Muntasir Abdul Hannan Sarkar, Manjural Islam, Alamgir Kabir, Talha Jubair, Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kopali, Tapash Baisya.

Umpires: David Shepherd, Steve Bucknor.

Third umpire: Peter Manuel.

Referee: Wasim Raza.