KANDY, Sri Lanka (Reuters):

SRI LANKA spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took six wickets to help bowl out Bangladesh for 131 on the rain-hit second day of the third and final Test yesterday.

Sri Lanka, leading the series 2-0 after big victories in Colombo, then closed the day on 30-0 after most of the afternoon was washed out.

Michael Vandort closed on 25 with Upul Tharanga, playing his first game of the series after injuring his foot, on four not out.

The start of play was also delayed by rain but Sri Lanka still had time to finish off the Bangladesh innings, which had resumed on 72 for four.

Muralitharan, playing in his hometown, was the chief threat, finishing with figures of six for 28 from 14.5 overs, his 59th five-wicket haul in his 113th test.

He took his career tally to 694 wickets, just 14 short of Australian leg spinner Shane Warne's world record of 708.