Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh second Test Tips, Predictions and Bet Builder

Bangladesh have a woeful Test record against Sri Lanka but they dominated last week's drawn first Test in Galle, where Tigers captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored centuries in both innings.

The match ended with Sri Lanka on 72-4, chasing 296 for victory, and the hosts will be targeting an improved bowling display when the two-Test series concludes in Colombo. 

Bangladesh are outsiders to win the second Test but they arrive at the Sinhalese Sports Club in good spirits after their performance in Galle.  

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Second Test Tips Summary

Market	Tip	Odds
Match Result	Draw	21/20
Best Bet	Dinesh Chandimal to score a fifty in first innings	13/8
Bet Builder	Bangladesh or draw double chance, Bangladesh opening partnership - Over 20.5, Prabath Jayasuriya top Sri Lanka first-innings bowler	6/1

Key Match Stats

• Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya has taken 91 wickets in 13 home Tests
• The Lankans have won only four of their last 12 Tests at the Sinhalese Sports Club
• Kamindu Mendis has scored five centuries and five fifties in his first 23 Test innings for Sri Lanka
• Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 148 and 125 not out in the first Test
• The Tigers have won only one of their 27 Test matches against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Second Test Prediction

Best Bet: Dinesh Chandimal to score a fifty in first innings @ 13/8

Sri Lankan stalwart Angelo Mathews played his final Test in Galle last week so Dinesh Chandimal is now the home side's senior batsman.

Chandimal scored a classy 54 in the first innings of the first Test and he can rack up another half-century at the SSC, where he made 80 and 64 in a first-class game for Galle at the end of April.

The number three has also had success at this venue in Test cricket, scoring 132 and 43 against Australia in 2016 and 107 in last year's victory over Afghanistan.   

James Milton explains:

Dinesh Chandimal is Sri Lanka's most experienced batsman and he should be full of confidence after first-innings scores of 73, 40, 132, 80 and 54 in his last five red-ball matches.

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Second Test Bet Builder Tip

• Bangladesh or draw double chance
• Bangladesh opening partnership - Over 20.5
• Prabath Jayasuriya top Sri Lanka first-innings bowler
  
  Pays 6/1

Bangladesh or draw double chance looks a decent Bet Builder selection as the Tigers had the better of last week's draw in Galle and Sri Lanka have a patchy record at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Last year's SSC Test between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka featured first-wicket stands of nought, 93, 106 and 56 so it is worth backing Bangladesh to have an opening partnership of at least 21. 

Prabath Jayasuriya had a quiet game in Galle but the spinner has a magnificent home record and he took eight wickets in last year's victory over Afghanistan in Colombo.

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James Milton adds:

Bangladesh's excellent batting in Galle, coupled with the forecast rain in Colombo, suggests they can avoid defeat in the second Test. The visiting openers should lay a solid foundation in the first innings before ace spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's most threatening bowler, comes into the attack.

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Tactics, Form and Team News

Sri Lanka have been forced into at least two team changes as former captain Angelo Mathews played his 119th and final Test in Galle last week.

Uncapped batters Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Pavan Rathnayake are competing to replace Mathews in the middle-order and all-rounder Milan Rathnayake has been ruled out with a side strain.

That could mean a recall for left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando and exciting young spinning all-rounder Dunith Wellalage could strengthen the batting order at number eight.

Sri Lanka thrashed Afghanistan by 10 wickets in last year's Test at the SSC but in July 2023 they suffered their heaviest ever home defeat, losing to Pakistan by an innings and 222 runs.

Expected Sri Lanka line-up: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Lahiru Udara, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Pasindu Sooriyabandara, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (c), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Vishwa Fernando, 11 Asitha Fernando.

There is mixed fitness news for Bangladesh as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto suffered a finger injury during fielding practice but key all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has recovered from illness.

Shanto's match aggregate of 273 runs in Galle was a record for a Bangladesh skipper and he will be desperate to be passed fit for the series decider.

Mehidy scored a century and took three five-wicket hauls in April's two-Test series against Zimbabwe and his last Test innings against Sri Lanka was an unbeaten 81 in Chattogram last year.

Expected Bangladesh line-up: 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Nayeem Hasan, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Nahid Rana.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.