Bangladesh face humiliation

Bangladesh face another huge innings defeat in the Asian Test Championship after Sri Lanka made 555 declared and spinner Muttiah Muralitharan helped reduce the visitors to 100 for four at the close of play on Friday.

Muralitharan took another three wickets to go with his five in the first innings to leave Bangladesh still 365 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat at the end of the second day of the match.

Sri Lanka's huge score came mainly from vice-captain Marvan Atapattu, who scored an unbeaten 201 before retiring, and from Mahela Jayawardene, who also retired after putting on 150 runs.

Atapattu, who was dropped twice on the opening day, hit 27 fours in his double century to leave Sri Lanka in total command.

Atapattu has hit eight Test centuries and has managed to turn five of those into double centuries -- a remarkable transformation from the start of his career when he made five ducks in his first six innings.

Only Australian great Donald Bradman with 12, England's Walter Hammond with seven and Pakistan's Javed Miandad with six have hit more double centuries.

Sri Lanka declared at tea and Bangladesh quickly ran into trouble as Muralitharan removed opener Mehrab Hussain -- caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara -- in the 13th over.

And four overs later the spinner trapped Javed Omar leg before.

Thilan Samaraweera made his contribution taking the wicket of Al Sahariar, also lbw.

Muralitharan then struck again, when Habibul Bashar edged a catch to Mahela Jayawardene. Muralitharan took five for 13 in just under 10 overs in the first innings.

Bangladesh lost the opening match of the Asian Test Championship by an innings and 264 runs to Pakistan.

The championship is being contested by only three teams because the Indian government refused to allow their side to play Pakistan in Lahore.