A hard-fought draw in Chattogram for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Both the teams happily agreed to shake hands after the minimum required overs (90) were bowled on Day 5 Thursday. Sri Lanka, thanks to a counter-attacking 48 from Kusal Mendis, took the initiative in the morning, but quick wickets swung the momentum. The visiting skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (52) then thwarted the Bangladeshi spinners before an unbeaten 99-run stand in 204 balls from Dinesh Chandimal (39 off 135) and Niroshan Dickwella (61 off 96) ensured a draw.
The match will be remembered for Angelo Mathews' brilliant 199, and also the twin tons from Tamim Iqbal (133) and Mishfiqur Rahim (105). During his 282-ball knock, Rahim also became the first Bangladeshi batter to score 5000 Test runs.
Summer heat also played its part in the match. Frequent stoppages for rehydration hampered the flow of the matches. On the penultimate day, umpire Richard Kettleborough was replaced by Joel Wilson due to heat. There were injuries too. Kasun Rajitha came in as a concussion sub for Vishwa Fernando for Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh's Shoriful Islam was retired hurt. The second and final match in Dhaka starts May 23. Catch Day 5 highlights of BAN vs SL, first Test.
4:23 PM IST: ICC Test Championship Table
The draw doesn't help either team. Check here the ICC Test Championship points table HERE. Australia are at the top with 75 PCT, followed by South Africa (71.43) and India (58.33). Sri Lanka (46.67) are 5th while Bangladesh (19.05) are 8th.
4:17 PM IST: Captains React
Both the captains hail their respective sides.
"The fast bowlers did a great job, in this heat it's not easy, they put their hands up, our spinners did a good job in patches," says Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka.
For the record, this is the match for Chris Silverwood as Sri Lanka head coach.
"We played really well, the batsmen and bowlers did their job teamwise. The second innings was a bit of a disappointment," Mominul Haque oof Bangladesh.
4:12 PM IST: Player of the match
Angelo Mathews takes the individual honours for his marathon 199 off 397 balls. He arrived in the middle at 66/2 (22nd over), and was the last man to get out in the 153rd over for Sri Lanka.
3:40 PM IST: Shake Hands
Taijul Islam on with his 34th over. Ball keeping low, but Dinesh Chandimal does well to fend off, more than a couple of times. A front foot no ball off the last. Then a block. Dinesh Chandimal (39 off 135) and Niroshan Dickwella (61 off 95) in a 99-run stand in 203 balls. Sri Lanka lead by 192 runs. 260/6 (90).
And the two sides shake hands. A hard-fought draw, one may assume.
Scores:
Sri Lanka - 397 & 260/6; Bangladesh - 465
3:14 PM IST: Dickwella Fifty
Taijul Islam continues. A single off the second ball and fifty for Niroshan Dickwella in 83 balls (five fours). Three from the over. Sri Lanka lead by 165 runs. 233/6 (84)
3:03 PM IST: 66-run Stand
Nayeem Hasan on with his 19th over. Four from the over. His figures so far: 0/61. Dinesh Chandimal (21 off 101) and Niroshan Dickwella (47 in 74). 24 runs in the last ten over. No trouble for Sri Lankan batters. Sri Lanka lead by 159 runs. BAN - 227/6 (81)
2:48 PM IST: 50-run Stand
Nayeem Hasan on with his 17th over. A maiden to Dinesh Chandimal (20 off 91). His stand with Niroshan Dickwella on (33 off 60) is now 51 in 124 balls. One run in the last three overs. Sri Lanka lead by 144 runs. 212/6 (77)
2:31 PM IST: Play Resumes
Players are back for the final session. 34 overs remaining in the play. Sri Lanka lead by 137 runs. Khaled Ahmed to resume proceedings. Dinesh Chandimal on strike.
2:12 PM IST: Tea
Najmul Hossain Shanto gets his first over. Two singles, and dots to Niroshan Dickwella. And tea. 29 overs 77 runs and two wickets in the session. Dinesh Chandimal (17 off 78) and Niroshan Dickwella (32 off 49) in an unbroken stand of 44 in 100. Sri Lanka lead by 137 runs. SL - 205/6 (73)
1:37 PM IST: Lead By 114
Taijul Islam continues. Two leg byes. His figures so far: 4/56 in 26 overs. Niroshan Dickwella (13 in 24) and Dinesh Chandimal (10 in 61) are unbeaten. Sri Lanka lead by 114 runs. BAN - 182/6 (66)
1:11 PM IST: Drinks
Taijul Islam on with his 23rd over. A single from it. His figures so far: 4/54. He's the wrecker-in-chief. Sri Lanka lead by 103 runs. Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella are unbeaten on 10 and 4 respectively. BAN - 171/6 (60)
12:57 PM IST: Six Down
Shakib Al Hasan strikes. Dhananjaya de Silva hits straight to Mushfiqur Rahim at midwicket. He goes for 33 off 60. Niroshan Dickwella is the new man. Sri Lanka lead by 93 runs. BAN - 161/6 (56.2)
12:46 PM IST: Rehydration Time
Taijul Islam on with his 20th over. A maiden to Dinesh Chandimal (4 off 18). And another stoppage. Everyone having drinks. Sri Lanka lead by 91 runs. SL - 159/5 (54)
12:24 PM IST: Karunaratne Out
Taijul Islam strikes again. Dimuth Karunaratne (52 off 138) caught by rival captain Mominul Haque at mid-wicket. Karunaratne is furious. Fourth for Islam. 30 runs and one wicket in the last ten overs. Dinesh Chandimal is the new man. Sri Lanka lead by 75 runs. SL - 143/5 (47.1)
12:04 PM IST: Play Resumes
Shakib Al Hasan resumes post-lunch proceedings. Seven from the over, including a couple and a three. Dimuth Karunaratne (50 off 132) reaches his fifty with the three, off the last ball, to third man. His stand with Dhananjaya de Silva (13 off 25) in now worth 25 in 54. Rebuilding. Sri Lanka lead by 67 runs. SL - 135/4 (45)
11:30 AM IST: Lunch
Taijul Islam on with his 15th over. A maiden to Dhananjaya de Silva (12 off 24). And lunch. Dimuth Karunaratne unbeten on 44 off 127. Sri Lanka lead by 60 runs. SL - 128/4 (44)
10:55 AM IST: Mathews Goes
Taijul Islam gets his third. Caught and bowled! Angelo Mathews, inside out, clubs the last ball and Islam snaps it up. Fine catch. Mathews goes for a 15-ball duck. Third duck for Mathews in his Test career and first in five years. Sri Lanka lead by 42 runs. SL - 110/4 (36)
10:36 AM IST: Wicket
And soon after th break, Taijul Islam gets the wicket of Kusal Mendis. Just enough turn to beat Mendis's defence and hit the off stump. Mendis goes for 48 off 42. Angelo Mathews is the new man. SL - 106/3 (31.2)
10:30 AM IST: Drinks
Shakib Al Hasan on with his 9th over. A maiden to Dimuth Karunaratne (34 off 89). His figures so far: 0000/15, including three maidens. Karunaratne's stand with Kusal Mendis (48 off 41) is now worth 67 in 86 balls, with the last 39 runs coming 60 balls. Sri Lanka lead by 38 runs. 106/2 (31)
10:07 AM IST: On A Leather Hunt
Nayeem Hasan continues. Kushal Mendis hit the fourth ball for a four, and a six off the next. 12 from the over. 41 runs in the last 30 balls. Sri Lanka lead by 26 runs. BAN - 94/2 (25)
9:54 AM IST: Sri Lanka Lead
Taijul Islam on with his 4th over. A single, and a Kusal Mendis hits his 6th four this morning, to long-off. Three more runs, and nine from the over. Sri Lanka lead by 8 runs. SL - 76/2 (22)
9:50 AM IST: Fours
Khaled Ahmed on with his third over. Kusal Mendis hits the first ball for a four, then two more for three boundaries on the trot. Mendis now on 21 off 13, and Sri Lanka trail by three runs. A couple more. 14 from the first four balls. And two dots. Sri Lanka trail by one run. SL - 67/2 (21)
9:30 AM IST: Play Begins
Taijul Islam continues with his second over. Kusal Mendis, the new man, takes the strike. Dimuth Karunaratne (18 off 45) is his partner. SL - 39/2 (17.1)
Day 4 Recap
On a slow-churning, Bangladesh removed two wickets after taking a first innings lead of 68 runs. At the close of play on Wednesday, the visitors were 39/2 in 17.1 overs with Taijul Islam on the spell. Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was unbeaten on 18 having faced 45 testing deliveries on a top that has already started producing variable bounce and turn.
Earlier in the day, Mushfiqur Rahim hit a patient 105 off 282 balls, en route to becoming the first Bangladesh batter to score 5000 Test runs, in 81 matches; while Tamim Iqbal, who had retired hurt on Day 3, returned only to get dismissed off the first ball (133 off 218).
Litton Das also contributed with 88 off 189, giving Rahim crucial support. For Sri Lanka, pacers Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rajitha took three and four wickets.
