Muralitharan was once again Sri Lanka's main weapon

Muttiah Muralitharan took five wickets in an innings for the 50th time in Test cricket as Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 on the opening day at Bogra.

He seized the initiative for Sri Lanka after Javed Omar and Nafees Iqbal had shared a half century opening stand.

And he went on to finish with figures of 5-79 from 30.5, leaving him just two wickets short of 600 in Tests.

Bangladesh also had success with the ball, however, and Sri Lanka were 25-2 in reply at close of play.

Michael Vandort was the first to go, lbw for nought to the first ball of Syed Rasel's second over, and night-watchman Malinga Bandara was caught at square leg off Shahadat Hossain for two.

But Upul Tharanga and Thilan Samaraweera prevented any further damage, and were 12 and seven not out respectively when the umpires called a halt.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh went into the game with a side showing one change, 17-year-old batsman Mushfiqur Rahim winning his second Test cap in place of Alok Kapali.

Things went according to plan for them at the outset as Nafees and Omar took advantage of some below-par new ball bowling from Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof.

But fellow seamer Dilhara Fernando checked the scoring rate when he took over from Maharoof as first change and when skipper Mahela Jayawardene turned to spin, it quickly paid dividends.

Bashar batted well before a rash shot cost him his wicket

Nafees (25) and Omar (36) were both lbw to Murali during the morning session and the slide continued after lunch when Malinga had Shahriar Nafees caught behind for nine.

Skipper Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Ashraful added 51 for the fourth wickets before Ashraful was bowled by leg-spinner Malinga Bandara for 24.

His downfall brought Rahim to the crease but the youngster only lasted 18 balls before Murali had him leg before for two.

And Bashar was guilty of giving his wicket away just before tea when he advanced down the wicket to a ball from Murali, but edged the ball onto his pad and Upul Tharanga took the catch at short leg.

Bashar's downfall for 69 left the home side on 188-6 at tea and although Mohammad Rafique made a useful 32, their eventual total was a big disappointment.

Murali took catches to remove Rafique and Shahadat Hossain off Fernando and then finished things off himself when last man Syed Rasel went for a third-ball duck.

Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (captain), Khaled Mashud, Shahriar Nafees, Javed Omar, Nafees Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Rafique, Enamul Haque, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Samaraweera.