It looks likely that the first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is going to be a draw – even though the Bangladeshis have broken two national records.
Sri Lanka, trailing by 68 runs, declared their second innings at 335-4 at tea on the fifth and final day of the opening Test against Bangladesh in Galle.
Bangladesh are now chasing an improbable 268-run victory target off 35 overs.
It seems that unless the Bangladesh batsmen can bat extremely aggressively or they collapse, then the result will end in a draw.
However, one of the newest Test sides in the world can take much from the match as their captain Mushfiqur Rahim racked up the first double-hundred by a Bangladeshi cricketer. Their first innings total of 638 is also the largest amount of runs the nation has ever made in a Test match.
Mushfiqur reached the 200-run milestone just after lunch on the fourth day and celebrated by punching the air and kissing the turf. The 24-year-old captain was caught lbw off the very next ball but that only slightly took the shine off his achievement.
Mushfiqur’s side then went on to make 638 all-out by tea on the fourth day. This total put Bangladesh 68 runs ahead of Sri Lanka on a pitch that was clearly proving to favour the batsmen rather than the bowlers.
Nasir Hossain also reached his maiden Test hundred for Bangladesh and became the seventh centurion of the match – along with Mushfiqur and Mohammad Ashraful for Bangladesh and Thirimanne, Sangakkara (twice), Chandimal and Dilshan for the Sri Lankans.
The second and final Test of the series will start in Colombo on Saturday.
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