Mominul guides Bangla to draw with record ton
CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Mominul Haque became the first player from Bangladesh to score a century in both innings of a Test as he steered his side to a draw in the opening match against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Mominul, who made 176 in the first innings, hit 105 off 174 balls to help Bangladesh reach 307-5 before the teams accepted the draw with an hour’s play left on the fifth and final day in Chittagong.
Skipper Mahmudullah was at the crease on 28 not out alongside Mosaddek Hossain (8 not out) when the stumps were drawn at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Sri Lanka held a 200-run first innings lead after declaring on a mammoth 713-9 in reply to Bangladesh’s 513.
“I would put my second century ahead of the first one because it helped us save the game,” Mominul said.
“We have been in this situation before. You have to be mentally strong and believe in yourself.”
The visitors fancied their chances for a victory when veteran spinner Rangana Herath picked up the crucial wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim off the last ball on the fourth day.
But Mominul, 18 not out overnight, and Liton Das, who fell just six runs short of his maiden Test century, shared a crucial 180-run stand for the fourth wicket to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers.
It was Dhananjaya de Silva who broke their partnership, dismissing Mominul shortly after the left-hander century of the game with a Sandakan.
Dimuth Karunaratne took the catch at slip to bring the curtains down on a fine innings, featuring five fours and two sixes.
Karunaratne, who was out for a duck in Sri Lanka’s first innings, criticised the batsman-friendly pitch.
“I think there needs to be something for the bowlers as well. I am hopeful we will get a 50-50 wicket in the next Test.”
Man of the match Mominul had nicked a delivery from Herath on 89 but wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella failed to grab a low catch.
The second and final Test will start in Dhaka on February 8.
Sri Lanka have been going through a run of mixed results. They had a horror tour of India where they lost all the ODI games played there.
Then managed to surprise Pakistan series victory in the UAE. scored his second single off Lakshan in a Test SOUTH AFRICA Bangladesh first innings: ............................................. 513 Sri Lanka first innings: ........................................ 713-9 dec Bangladesh second innings (O/n: 81-3): T Iqbal c Dickwella b Sandakan ......................................................41 I Kayes c Chandimal b Perera.........................................................19 Mominul c Karunaratne b de Silva...............................................105 M Rahim c Mendis b Herath ............................................................ 2 L Das c Perera b Herath ..................................................................94 Mahmudullah (not out) .................................................................28 M Hossain (not out) ......................................................................... 8 Extras (B-3, LB-2, W-1, NB-4) .........................................................10 Total (For 5 wkts, 100 overs) .......................................... 307 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-76, 3-81, 4-261, 5-279. Bowling: Herath 28-6-80-2, Lakmal 9-1-25-0, De Silva 12-0-41-1, Perera 26-5-74-1, Sandakan 18-2-64-1, Kumara 6-0-16-0, Mendis 1-0-2-0.