The Chattogram Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended in a draw after Sri Lankan batters held it firm despite losing two quick wickets late fourth day and two more on the early fifth day.
The unbeaten 99-run stand between Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella made it sure that they would not lose this match on a solid track of Chattogram. Bangladesh bowlers tried their best, especially, Taijul Islam, but they failed to create a situation that can produce a result.
Bangladesh bowled in the second innings without their left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam who sustained a blow on his hand while batting and was subsequently ruled out of this series.
When both teams agreed on a draw, Sri Lanka were batting at 260 for six. Chandimal and Dickwella remained unbeaten for 39 and 61 respectively.
For Bangladesh, Taijul took four wickets conceding 82 runs while Shakib Al Hasan scalped a wicket too.
“We played really well, the batters and bowlers did their job team wise,” Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque told the broadcaster after the match. “ The second innings was a bit disappointing; Shakib bowled really well, Nayeem (Hasan) also did well after playing a Test after a long gap.”
For the most part of the match, Bangladesh were in the driving seat. They managed a first-innings lead, they have to batters to have a century. Sri Lanka failed to put pressure despite having a good first-innings total.
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“Unfortunately we did not put pressure on Bangladesh,” Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne told the broadcaster after the match. “The fast bowlers did a great job, in this heat, it was not easy, they put their hands up, our spinners did a good job in patches, they will learn from this game and look to improve.”
In the first innings of the match, Sri Lanka put up a total of 397 riding on the outstanding effort of Angelo Mathews who hit 199. Nayeem bagged six wickets in this innings which is now his highest in the format.
In reply, Bangladesh posted 465 and declared. They got a first-innings lead thanks to centuries from Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim. Along the way, Mushfiqur completed 5000 runs in Tests as the first Bangladeshi batter.
The second and final Test of this series will take place in Dhaka from May 23.
This series is a part of the ongoing cycle of the ICC Test Championship. Bangladesh played seven matches so far in this event and won only one match, and the latest match came as the first draw.