Skipper Mohammad Ashraful hit an unbeaten half-century as Bangladesh batted defiantly in pursuit of a massive victory target in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Mirpur on Tuesday.
Ashraful’s eighth Test half-century guided the hosts to 254-5 at the close of the fourth day chasing an unlikely 521 to win the match.
Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan (34 not out) shared an unbroken 74-run stand for the sixth wicket to provide the resistance after Muttiah Muralitharan left them in turmoil with a triple strike.
The hosts lost wickets whenever they looked liked building a partnership after Tillakaratne Dilshan ran out Imrul Kayes (13) with a direct hit from midwicket to end an opening stand of 40.
Paceman Dammika Prasad removed opener Tamim Iqbal for a confident 47 before off-spinner Muralitharan removed Zunaed Siddique (37) and Raqibul Hassan (24), taking his match tally to eight wickets.
Muralitharan later added Mehrab Hossain, who was caught at mid-off by substitute fielder Chamara Kapugedera for 23, to give Sri Lanka their only success in the final session that was extended by 20 minutes after a delayed start in the morning.
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene struck 166 before declaring the second innings at 405-6 in the morning.
Sri Lanka added 114 runs, losing two wickets after resuming on 291-4 in the morning, following Monday’s break due to parliamentary elections and a 20-minute delay caused by dampness on the pitch.
Jayawardene, on 129 overnight after scoring his 24th Test century, was eventually caught by Zunaed Siddique at slip off left-arm spinner Mehrab Hossain.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (47) was out in the previous over, caught behind against left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, after a 95-run fifth wicket partnership with his skipper. — Reuters