Bangladesh pull off historic win over Sri Lanka in 100th Test
COLOMBO: Opener Tamim Iqbal top-scored with 82 runs in the second innings as Bangladesh pulled off a historic four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo on Sunday.
The rare win for Bangladesh — just their fourth away from home and first against Sri Lanka in 18 attempts — ended the two-Test series in a draw after the visitors endured a 259-run loss in the opener in Galle.
Chasing a target of 191, teenage batsman Mehedi Hasan hit the winning run after an anxious half hour in the final session on the fifth day, getting Bangladesh across the line in 57.5 overs.
Tamim laid the groundwork with his 22nd Test fifty, teaming up with Sabbir Rahman who made 41 runs and shared 109 for the third wicket with the left-hander.
Sri Lanka struck in phases through spinners Dilruwan Perera and skipper Rangana Herath, who grabbed three wickets each, but lacked the cutting edge to deny Bangladesh from celebrating their 100th Test match in style.
Bangladesh began looking nervous when Tamim — who faced 82 balls and hit seven fours and a six — hoisted a catch to Dinesh Chandimal off Perera just before the tea break.
Perera then removed Sabbir through a successful review after the bowler’s initial appeal for a leg-before was rejected, giving Sri Lanka an outside chance for a win.
Mushifiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan got Bangladesh through to the tea break with 35 runs still needed, but Herath got a lucky breakthrough soon after the resumption as Shakib dragged a ball to stumps on 15.
Mushfiqur remained unbeaten on 22 to take Bangladesh home with some support from debutant Mosaddek Hossain, who made 13 runs during the crucial period.
Skipper Herath earlier in the morning thought to have given Sri Lanka some control once he picked up two wickets in two balls to leave Bangladesh struggling at 38-2 at the lunch break.
Herath claimed his first wicket when opener Soumya Sarkar, charging down the pitch, was deceived by a turn and lofted a catch to Upul Tharanga at mid-off for 10. SRI LANKA FIRST INNINGS ............. 338 BANGLADESH FIRST INNINGS .........467 SRI LANKA SECOND INNINGS (OVERNIGHT: 268-8) D Karunaratne c Sarkar b Al Hasan ...... 126 U Tharanga b M Hasan ............................26 K Mendis c Rahim b M. Rahman .............36 D Chandimal c Rahim b M Rahman ..........5 A Gunaratne lbw Al Hasan ........................ 7 D de Silva c Rahim b M Rahman ...............0 N Dickwella c Rahim b Al Hasan ............... 5 D Perera run out ......................................50 R Herath lbw T Islam ................................. 9 S Lakmal c Mosa Hossain b Al Hasan ......42 L Sandakan not out ................................... 0 Extras (b-4 lb-8 w-1) ...............................13 Total (all out, 113.2 overs) ............ 319 Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-143, 3-165, 4-176, 5-177, 6-190, 7-217, 8-238, 9-318 Bowling: S Roy 16-4-36-0, M Hasan 240-71-1, M Rahman 23-3-78-3, S Al Hasan 36.2-9-74-4, Mosa Hossain 3-0-10-0, T Islam 11-1-38-1 BANGLADESH SECOND INNINGS T Iqbal c Chandimal b D Perera ...............82 S Sarkar c Tharanga b Herath ..................10 I Kayes c Gunaratne b Herath ................... 0 S Rahman lbw D Perera ..........................41 S Al Hasan b D Perera ..............................15 M Rahim not out .....................................22 Mosa Hossain c Dickwella b Herath ........13 M Hasan not out ....................................... 2 Extras (b-4 lb-1 w-1) ................................. 6 Total (for 6 wickets, 57.5 overs) .... 191 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-22, 3-131, 4-143, 5-162, 6-189 Bowling: D Perera 22-1-59-3, R Herath 24.5-2-75-3, D de Silva 2-0-7-0, L Sandakan 6-1-34-0, S Lakmal 2-0-7-0, A Gunaratne 1-0-4-0
Imrul Kayes edged the next ball to slip fielder Asela Gunaratne for a duck.
Perera and Suranga Lakmal frustrated Bangladesh for more than an hour with the bat as Sri Lanka added 51 runs to their overnight 2688 before finishing up for 319 in their second innings.