The varieties of Mendis were too much for Bangladesh's batsmen

Ajantha Mendis made a successful return to Sri Lanka's Test team, taking 4-71 to bowl out Bangladesh for 208 on day two of the second Test in Chittagong.

Sri Lanka's batting was once against suspect, as they went from an overnight 367-6 to 384 all out, in-form spinner Shakib Al Hasan taking 4-109.

But spinner Mendis struck back as Bangladesh slid to 90-6 and 145-9.

Mashrafe Mortaza then hit an aggressive 63 before being the last man dismissed, and Sri Lanka were 13-0 at the close.

Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain did come within one hit of matching Bangladesh's previous best 10th-wicket stand in Tests of 69.

However, after hitting the first ball of a Muttiah Muralitharan over for six, Mortaza was caught on the boundary attempting another to give the veteran off-spinner figures of 3-62.

"I have batted in such a situation on quite a few occasions in the past so I knew what to do," Mortaza explained.

606: DEBATE Typical Bangladesh, they have good patches but then let the opposition off the hook yorksfan

"The first target now is to keep them to a low score in the second innings and then we will see what happens."

The partnership had at least saved the follow-on, and gave Sri Lanka's opening batsmen a tricky five overs to negotiate before the close. But there were no alarms as they reached stumps with an overall lead of 189.

With Sri Lanka's last four wickets only able to add a further 17 runs to their overnight total, Shakib wrapped up the tail when he obtained three lbw decisions.

Chamara Kapugedera, 93 not out at the start of play, failed to reach a maiden Test century as he fell for 96.

Mendis, arguably the find of 2008 with 26 wickets in his first three Tests and 48 scalps in 18 one-day internationals, had been kept out of the first Test in Mirpur with an ankle injury, and it had been expected he would play no part in this series.

However, having recovered faster than expected, he needed only 12 deliveries to strike for the first time, trapping Raqibul Hasan lbw.

He had two more lbws from as many deliveries and then the charging Mushfiqur Rahim was easily stumped.

Everything was going smoothly for Sri Lanka until Mortaza spoilt the mood with his third Test fifty, but the tourists remained in prime shape to force a victory.

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