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28 March 2024

Sri Lanka v Bangladesh 1st Test: Records set

Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful is unbeaten on 189 on day three of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on March 10, 2013. (AFP)

Published
By Staff with Agencies

Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim smashed impressive centuries in a record stand as Bangladesh dominated the third day of the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Sunday.
 
Ashraful hit an unbeaten 189 not out, the highest by a Bangladeshi in Tests, on his comeback and Rahim made a career-best 152 not out as the tourists posted 438-4 in their first innings at stumps in reply to Sri Lanka's 570-4 declared.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW 'LIVE' REPORT OF DAY FOUR
 
Their 261-run unbroken stand was Bangladesh's highest for any wicket in Tests, the previous best being 200 for the second wicket between Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique against India in Dhaka in 2010.
 
Bangladesh also surpassed their previous highest total of 413 against Sri Lanka in Tests.
 
The tourists, who avoided the follow-on in the final session, now trail by 132 runs with six wickets in hand.
 
The 28-year-old Ashraful, who played his last Test in December 2011, hit one six and 20 fours in his sixth Test hundred, and the fifth against Sri Lanka, while Rahim, 24, smashed one six and 18 fours in his second Test century.
 
It was a frustrating day for Sri Lanka as none of their bowlers could keep up pressure on Ashraful and wicketkeeper-batsman Rahim on a good batting pitch. The hosts went wicketless after striking twice in the opening 11 overs.
 
Bangladesh added 303 to their overnight total of 135-2 for the loss of just two wickets.
 
Ashraful, 65 overnight, completed his century with an aggressive shot when he firmly drove unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis through the covers for a four in the morning.
 
Rahim also played some handsome shots during his big innings and reached his hundred in the last session when he swept Mendis for a four.
 
Debutant Mominul Haque also impressed, scoring an 83-ball 55 with nine fours. He added 105 for the third wicket with Ashraful before being caught at first slip by skipper Angelo Mathews off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara.
 
The left-hander added 20 runs to his overnight score of 35.
 
Sri Lanka struck again when left-arm spinner Rangana Herath had Mohammad Mahmudullah stumped for no score to reduce Bangladesh to 177-4 before Ashraful and Rahim propped up the innings.

Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle on Sunday:

Sri Lanka 1st innings 570-4 decl (L. Thirimanne 155 not out, K. Sangakkara  142, D. Chandimal 116 not out; Sohag Gazi 3-164)

Bangladesh 1st innings (overnight 135-2):
Jahurul Islam c Chandimal b Eranga                20
Anamul Haque b Mendis                             13
Mohammad Ashraful not out                        189
Mominul Haque c Mathews b Kulasekara              55
Mohammad Mahmudullah st Chandimal b Herath         0
Mushfiqur Rahim not out                          152
Extras (b2, lb1, nb6)                              9
Total (for four wickets; 136 overs)              438
Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Jahurul), 2-65 (Anamul), 3-170 (Mominul), 4-177 (Mahmudullah)
Bowling: Kulasekara 21-3-76-1 (nb1), Eranga 22-3-80-1 (nb5), Herath 42-9-103-1, Mendis 23-2-92-1, Mathews 6-1-16-0, Dilshan 20-3-55-0, Thirimanne 2-0-13-0

Toss: Sri Lanka
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)
TV umpire: Tyron Wijewardene (SRI)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

EVENING SESSION

Records continue to tumble as Bangladesh have now passed their previous highest total made in an overseas Test when they reached 420 for four.

Runs are coming easily for Bangladesh against a dispirited Sri Lanka attack as Mushfiqur and Ashraful get consecutive boundaries off Eranga and Herath.

Mushfiqur brings up the 200 partnership for the unfinished fifth wicket with Ashraful by punching Herath to cover for a single.

This partnership is the highest for any wicket by Bangladesh in Test cricket.

Mushfiqur has whacked Dilshan for a massive six over long on as Bangladesh pass the follow on mark.

Ashraful has surpassed his previous highest in Test cricket of 157 which is the best by a Bangladesh batsman.

Ashraful (155) has been dropped by Dilshan who failed to hang onto a return catch.

Ashraful gives the charge to Dilshan and hoist his to midwicket for his 17th boundary to bring up the 350 of the Bangladesh innings in the 113th over.

Mushfiqur Rahim brings up his second Test century by paddle sweeping Mendis to the fine leg boundary.

His stylish knock which came off 164 balls contained 12 boundaries spearheading Bangladesh's fightback in partnership with Ashraful.

Ashraful has flicked Dilshan in the first over after tea to the midwicket boundary as Bangladesh continue to attack.

It was a productive session for Bangladesh with the fifth wicket pair of Ashraful and Mushfiqur adding 106 runs.

Bangladesh are still trailing by 240 runs but need just 40 runs to make Sri Lanka bat again.

Ashraful, playing his first Test in more than a year, is  unbeaten on 143 having his 15 fours and a six.

Mushfiqur who was the more aggressive of the two is not out on 92 having hit 11 fours so far.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Mushfiqur is flaying the Sri Lanka attack hitting a couple of boundaries in consecutive overs off Mendis to move into the 90s.

Ashraful cuts Herath past point for his 15th boundary.

Ashraful has hit a boundary of Eranga steering him to third man.

Mushfiqur brings up the 100 partnership for the fifth wicket with Ashraful by driving Eranga through extra cover for a boundary.

Ashraful is on a roll having stroked two consecutive boundaries off Mathews on the off and hits another boundary off Herath.

Mushfiqur completed his 10th Test half century off 84 balls with a single off Mathews.

Mushfiqur has flicked Kulasekera to the square leg for his seventh boundary followed by a single to move to 49.

Sri Lanka have taken the second new ball with Bangladesh 244-4 after 80.2 overs.

Mushfiqur has danced down the track to loft Herath to the mid on boundary to bring up the 50 partnership with Ashraful for the fifth wicket off 129 balls.

Bangladesh trail by 346 runs still needing another 146 runs to make Sri Lanka bat again.

Mohammad Ashraful is unbeaten on 107 off 196 balls having hit 10 fours and a six.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim is with him on 25 off 57 balls having stroked three boundaries and added 47 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket.

The tourists began positively in the morning session with the overnight pair Mohammad Ashraful and Mominul Haque posting the highest third wicket stand of 105 for the third wicket by Bangladesh against Sri Lanka.

But they were rocked by the twin dismissals of Mominul and Mahmudullah in successive overs.

Kulasekera struck a crucial blow for Sri Lanka when he found the edge of Mominul (54) who was caught at first slip after having completed his maiden Test half century on debut.

Mahmudullah lasted just five balls giving the charge to left arm spinner Herath only to be stumped by Chandimal without scoring.

MORNING SESSION

Mushfiqur has rocked back and punched Mendis past cover for his third boundary.

Mohammad Ashraful punched his fists in delight and prayed on the turf after completing his sixth Test century, his fifth versus Sri Lanka, when he cracked Ajanta Mendis through the covers for his 10th boundary.

Ashraful patiently took singles in the nervous nineties before picking the right ball to reach his century which came off 182 balls and also contained a six.

Herath has bowled a maiden over to Ashraful who is in his nervous nineties.

Mushfiqur Rahim has stroked a couple of lovely off drives to the boundary off Kulasekera to get into his stride.

Ashraful unfazed by the twin dismissals is continuing to bat positively having driven Kulasekera through point for a boundary to move into the 90s.

Sri Lanka have struck a double blow in successive overs to put Bangladesh on the back foot as they face a huge task to avoid following on.

Herath strikes in his second over of the morning as Mahmudullah goes for a duck being stumped by Chandimal as he danced down the track.

Ashraful has decided that attack is the best form of defence stepping out to hoist Herath for an extraordinary six over extra cover.

Nuwan Kulasekera strikes in his fifth over of the morning as Mominul Haque edges to Angelo Mathews at first slip.

Mominul departs for stylish knock of 55 which came off 93 balls and contained nine boundaries.

He figures in a 105-run partnership for the third wicket with Ashraful which is the highest against Sri Lanka.

Left arm spinner Rangana Herath is back into the attack after bowling 12 overs without success on Saturday.

Mominul Haq brings up the 100 partnership for the third wicket in 160 balls with another boundary off Kulasekera this time through the covers.

Ashraful has driven Eranga through the covers for his boundary of the morning as they surpassed the previous highest third wicket stand by Bangladesh.

Left-hander Mominul Haque has lofted Kulasekera over his head to reach his maiden Test half century on his debut in style off 70 balls.

Haque's fluent knock contained eight boundaries so far.

Eranga and Nuwan Kulasekera opened the attack as Bangladesh's overnight pair played cautiously.

Mominul Haque has hit the first boundary of the third morning cracking Eranga to third man.

Mohammad Ashraful (65 not out) and Mominul Haque (35 not out) figured in an unfinished stand of 70 for the third wicket as Bangladesh began the day needing a further 236 runs to avoid the follow-on.