After a topsy-turvy battle in Dhaka, Bangladesh have the upper hand at the culmination of Day One, thanks to sublime tons from Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh had a torrid start, with Kasun Rajitha bowling a peach of a delivery to break the defence of Mahmudul Hasan Joy (0) in the second ball of the innings.
In the next over, a thick edge from Tamim Iqbal (0) was caught brilliantly at the point by Praveen Jayawickrama.
Things turned from bad to worse when Fernando bowled in the area of uncertainty and induced an edge of captain Mominul Haque (9) and pushed the home side on the back-foot.
Rajitha bowled another unplayable delivery to knock the stumps of Najmul Hossain Shanto (8). Rajitha was the star of the show in the first session and was the chief tormentor with the red cherry in hand.
At one point, Bangladesh was reeling at 24/5 when the duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das joined hands.
The duo were cautious in their approach until the lunch session and slowly but steadily resurrected the innings.
Once they got their eyes in, the duo started to take on the bowlers and also found the boundaries at will. With the wicket getting better as the game progressed, Mushfiqur and Liton made Sri Lanka pay for their erratic lines and lengths.
The hosts added 87 runs in the second session and took complete control of the game. Mushfiqur continued his red-hot form and notched up his second century of the series. Liton was the aggressor in the partnership, and he eventually brought up his second century in Test cricket and remained unbeaten on 135 at the end of the day's play.
The two middle-order batters added 253 for the sixth wicket and strengthened Bangladesh's position in the Test match.
It will be interesting to see if Sri Lankan bowlers can get the priced scalps of both these players in the morning session of Day 2. They need early inroads if they are to make a comeback in the Test match.
Brief Scores:
Bangladesh- 277/5 (1st innings)
Liton Das 135*, Mushfiqur Rahim 115*;
Kasun Rajitha 3/43