Bangladesh remained on course for an unlikely victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, despite the loss of Mohammad Ashraful shortly after he had scored his fifth test century.
Set a world record 521-run victory target, the hosts reached lunch on the final day on 373 for six with Shakib Al Hasan leading Bangladesh’s push with a test-best unbeaten 82 at the interval.
The score is already the home side’s best fourth innings total, easily surpassing the 285-5 they accumulated against Zimbabwe in 2005.
The highest fourth innings run chase is 418-7, set by the West Indies in their three-wicket defeat of Australia at St John’s in 2003.
The hosts require a further 148 run to record the stunning upset but with wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim also unbeaten on 40 at the interval, Bangladesh will feel they have a chance of rewriting the record books.
Shakib and Rahim have put on 81 runs for the seventh wicket after Sri Lanka picked up their solitary success of the morning session in getting rid of Ashraful.
Ashraful batted elegantly after resuming on 70, reaching his fourth century against Sri Lanka by driving Chaminda Vaas exquisitely over long on for a boundary shortly before he was trapped lbw for 101 by the same bowler.
Bangladesh added 119 runs in 34 overs in the session after starting the day on 254-5.
The hosts were dismissed for 178 runs in the first innings in response to Sri Lanka’s 293. Sri Lanka declared their second innings on 405-6. – Reuters