Sri Lanka win series as Bangladesh draw Test

CHITTAGONG Feb 08, 2014 Mominul Haque hit an unbeaten century to steer Bangladesh to a draw in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Chittagong on Saturday, leaving the tourists with a 1-0 series win.

Bangladesh, who needed to bat out their second innings after being set an improbable victory target of 467, were 271-3 when stumps drawn on the fifth day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

Mominul, a 22-year-old left-hander, held the innings together till both sides accepted the draw as soon as he reached 100, his third Test hundred, the post-tea session.Shakib Al Hasan returned unbeaten on 43 as he and Mominul added 120 for the fourth wicket after Bangladesh were 151-3 before tea.Sri Lanka, who won the first Test by an innings and 248 runs in Dhaka last week, failed to dislodge the hosts who appeared determined to salvage their battered reputation. It was only the second draw in 16 Tests between the two countries, with Sri Lanka have won the other 14 matches, eight of them by an innings margin. Bangladesh, who languish at the bottom of the Test rankings at number 10, have lost 68 of their 83 Tests since gaining full status in 2000, winning just four.

The hosts, who began the day at 12-0, lost two wickets in a tense morning session to go to lunch at 91-2.

Tamim Iqbal and Shamsur Rahman put on 71 for the first wicket, before both openers fell in the space of 10 runs.

Tamim made 31 when he was bowled by leg-spinner Kithuruwan Vithanage, who was bowling for the first time in his short four-Test career.

Rahman, a century-maker in the first innings, looked in fine touch during his knock of 45 when he was bowled by off-spinner Dilruwan Perera.

Imrul Kayes, who also got a hundred in the previous innings, helped Mominul add 70 for the third wicket on either side of lunch before he was leg-before to Perera for 25.

As Bangladesh batted out the draw, Sri Lanka missed spin spearhead Rangana Herath and seamer Shaminda Eranga, who both flew home before the Test to recuperate from injuries.

Perera was the most impressive bowler for the tourists, conceding just 55 runs in 28 steady overs for his two wickets.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will now engage in two Twenty20 matches in Chittagong on Wednesday and Friday, before starting a three-match one-day series in Sylhet on February 17.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka - 1st innings 587
(K. Sangakkara 319, M. Jayawardene 72, A. Mendis 47, Shakib Al Hasan 5-148)
Bangladesh - 1st innings 426
(Shamsur Rahman106, Imrul Kayes 115, Shakib Al Hasan 50, A. Mendis 6-99, D. Perera 3-119)
Sri Lanka - 2nd innings
305-4 declared (K. Sangakkara 105, D. Chandimal 100 not out)
Bangladesh - 2nd innings (overnight 12-0)

Tamim Iqbal b Vithanage				31
Shamsur Rahman b Perera				45
Imrul Kayes lbw b Perera			25
Mominul Haque not out			       100
Shakib Al Hasan  not out			43
Extras: (b12, lb2, nb13)			27
Total (for three wickets, 84.4 overs)	       271

Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Tamim), 2-81 (Shamsur), 3-151 (Imrul)
Bowling: Lakmal 13-5-30-0 (nb3)
	 Perera 28-7-55-2
	 Mendis 16-0-61-0 (nb3)
	 Pradeep 9.4-1-33-0 (nb4)
	 Vithanage 16-0-73-1 (nb3)
	 Karunaratne 2-0-5-0

Match drawn; Sri Lanka win series 1-0.
Toss: Sri Lanka 
Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS) 
TV umpire: Anisur Rahman (BAN)