(ESPNCRICINFO) – SRI LANKA moved within four wickets of sealing a series win, with Bangladesh still 96 runs adrift of their first-innings lead in the second Test. After a dominant second day, the hosts consolidated their command on the game with another clinical display, stretching their lead past 200 before Bangladesh collapsed in their second innings. For Sri Lanka, Prabath Jayasuriya led a spin-bowling attack that sent Bangladesh scrambling, leaving them on the cusp of an innings defeat.

A lead of 211 appeared impregnable on a surface that was beginning to take turn. Bangladesh’s brief bright start was cut short on the cusp of tea when, off the last ball of the session, Anamul Haque’s eyes lit up at a short delivery, only to be beaten by the extra pace and bounce as he toe-ended it to short midwicket.

That was the only wicket a fast bowler took for Sri Lanka in their second innings on day three. Post-tea, Jayasuriya spun a web around the batters. Shadman Islam nicked off to the wicketkeeper off just his second ball of the session as the straighter deliveries wreaked havoc upon the batters’ judgments. Jayasuriya was unlucky not to snare Najmul Hossain Shanto on a number of occasions when he beat the outside edge by a whisker, and when Shanto charged down the wicket without connecting, only for the wicketkeeper to fumble the gather.

Dhananjaya de Silva came into the attack and sent Mominul Haque packing, though, exploiting the grip off the surface and the natural advantage of a fingerspinner taking it away from the left-hand batter. Shanto, too, fell in Dhananjaya’s third over as the arm ball went through the gate and trapped him plumb in front.

There was enough time to inflict further damage on the visitors. Late in the day, Jayasuriya produced a touch of extra turn that clipped the outside edge of the off stump to send Mushfiqur Rahim back. Then, for the second consecutive session, a wicket ended the session, as Tharindu Ratnayake got one to straighten and send Mehidy Hasan Miraz back when Dhananjaya reviewed.

But it had looked rosier for Bangladesh in the morning. Taijul Islam and Nahid Rana dragged them back into contention as Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis battled to hold on to the advantage Sri Lanka had established on the second day. After a first hour that the visitors dominated with three early wickets, a 49-run stand between the pair held Bangladesh at bay, taking Sri Lanka’s lead into three figures and steadily building upon it.

While offspinner Nayeem Hasan darted one through Kamindu to just about edge the session for his side, Sri Lanka’s 154-run lead at lunch already threatened to have batted Bangladesh out of forcing a positive result.

Bangladesh was staring into the abyss at the start after toiling all of the second day for two measly wickets as Sri Lanka approached 300. Early in the morning, though, Pathum Nissanka, having crossed 150, chipped Taijul to short cover. As Nissanka walked back to a standing ovation, Bangladesh sensed the new day was bringing with it fresh hope.