12°c Light rain showers
7°c Cloudy with showers
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Bangladesh holds on for high-scoring draw in 1st test against Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century during the fifth day of their first test cricket match against Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
GALLE, Sri Lanka - The first test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ended in a draw Tuesday after a high-scoring five days that included eight centuries.
Bangladesh was set a daunting target of 268 runs in 37 overs to win, but they opted for a draw reaching 70 for one when the captains decided to call off the game early.
The result was a moral victory for the tourists who had lost all 12 previous tests to Sri Lanka. It was only Bangladesh's eighth draw in 76 tests.
The game also produced the highest match aggregate for a test in Sri Lanka, with 1,613 runs scored. The previous mark was 1,489 in the 1997 draw between Sri Lanka and India at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the second test will be played.
The flat pitch produced eight centuries, equaling the record set for most hundreds in a test.
The fifth day saw Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan involved in a record partnership, and both batsmen went on to score centuries.
Sangakkara established a new record for most centuries by a Sri Lankan when he posted his 32nd in the morning session, backing up his 142 in the first innings. He became the fifth Sri Lankan to score centuries in both innings of a test match after Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinghe, Aravinda de Silva and Dilshan.
Sangakkara was playing his first game of cricket since fracturing his left index finger during the Boxing Day test in Melbourne last year.
Mahmudullah provided the breakthrough after lunch when Sangakkara was spectacularly caught at short mid-wicket to end a 230-run stand, a record between the countries for the second wicket. The previous best was the 172-run stand between Michael Van Dort and Naveed Nawaz in 2002 at SSC.
Mahmudullah finished with three wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who became the first Bangladeshi to score a double hundred in test cricket, was named Man of the Match.
The second test begins on Saturday at R. Premadasa Stadium.
More Other Sports
- Back to Top
- Return to Other Sports
More Other Sports
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Finance ministry official Filimoni Waqabaca appointed as Fiji Rugby Union chairman
12:45 AM 0WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Filimoni Waqabaca, a permanent secretary at Fiji's Finance Ministry, has been elected chairman of the Fiji ...
Poll
Most Popular Other Sports
- Canberra ends Melbourne's 15-match win streak in the National Rugby League
- Here's how to catch a cat
- Manitoba Marathon / Full Marathon Results
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Arm yourself for the annual blood feud
- Unexpected Honours
- Improvements eyed for Birds Hill bike trail
- Glory days
- Ex-Olympian admits she worked for escort service
- California man identified as victim of fatal skiing accident in southeast B.C.
- Fighter a tattoo artist
- Owl River opens to paddlers
- Canberra ends Melbourne's 15-match win streak in the National Rugby League
- Handball family gathering
- Why does Manitoba get short end of fishing rod?
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- Fighting to bring out his best Gloves are on against autism
- Wax sculpture of Sachin Tendulkar brings cheers from fans at Sydney Cricket Ground
- Ailing Hesjedal gets off the bike
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Why does Manitoba get short end of fishing rod?
- Sports scientist admits offering peptides to rugby league players, denies link to cancer death
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Impact study: Questionnaire aims to help local medical researcher shape new guidelines for when and how to safely get kids back on the field or rink after a concussion
- Riley family's $500-K donation covers most of Sports Hall of Fame
- Wax sculpture of Sachin Tendulkar brings cheers from fans at Sydney Cricket Ground
- On the HomeFront
- Canberra ends Melbourne's 15-match win streak in the National Rugby League
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- Impact study: Questionnaire aims to help local medical researcher shape new guidelines for when and how to safely get kids back on the field or rink after a concussion
- Love the wilderness? Put Bloodvein on life list
- Trappers are happy -- very happy
- California man identified as victim of fatal skiing accident in southeast B.C.
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Bugs don't ruin day at Downs, they rule it
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Handball family gathering
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.