Sri Lanka are closing in on victory and another Test series sweep in Bangladesh after reducing the hosts to 268/7 in an improbable chase of a 511-run target on Tuesday.

Pacer Lahiru Kumara, left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya and batsman all-rounder Kamindu Mendis took two wickets each to put Bangladesh in survival mode on Day IV of the second and final Test.

Bangladesh barely forced a fifth day though. At stumps, Mehidy Hasan was on 44 from 49 balls after hitting seven fours and Taijul Islam on 10.

Mominul Haque’s second fifty in the series helped Bangladesh to go past 200 for the first time in five Test innings dating to last December. But he was dismissed for 50 off 56 balls after hitting eight fours and a six.

Earlier in the day, Angelo Mathews scored his first half-century of the series and the 41st in his career. Sri Lanka resumed their second innings on 102/6 and declared at 157/7 shortly after Mathews was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan for 56.

Bangladesh then batted eight overs without losing any wicket till lunch, before losing their first wicket in the second over after the interval. Jayasuriya broke the opening stand when he dismissed Mahmudul Hasan on 24.

Thereafter, pacer Vishwa Fernando got Zakir Hasan caught on 19 by Dhananjaya de Silva at first slip. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto reached double digits for the first time in the series, but appeared uncomfortable throughout his stay before he was bowled on 20 by Kumara.

Mominul counterattacked and raised his 18th Test fifty. He was out off the next delivery, top-edging a sweep off Jayasuriya straight to square leg.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 531 & 157/7 decl. (A. Mathews 56). Bangladesh 178 & 268/7 (M. Haq 50; K. Mendis 2/22). At stumps, Day 4.