Cricket
Galle run fest ends in draw
2013-03-12 12:56
Galle - Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara
completed his second century of the match as the opening Test against
Bangladesh ended in a tame draw on the fifth and final day in Galle on
Tuesday.
Sangakkara cracked a solid 105 and opener Tillakaratne
Dilshan an impressive 126 as Sri Lanka declared their second innings at
335-4 at tea to set Bangladesh an improbable 268-run victory target in
the last session.
The tourists finished at 70-1 in their second innings.
The
flat track at the Galle International Stadium produced eight centuries,
equalling the record of most tons in a Test set during the West
Indies-South Africa match at Antigua in 2005.
Sri Lanka added 219
to their overnight total of 116-1 for the loss of three wickets, with
debutant Kithuruwan Vithanage (59) and skipper Angelo Mathews (38 not
out) being the other main scorers.
Sangakkara completed his 32nd
century, the highest by a Sri Lankan in Tests, with a single off
off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah. He hit 10 fours in his 172-ball knock.
The
former captain, who scored a brilliant 142 in the first innings, also
became the fifth Sri Lankan to make a century in each innings of a Test
after Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha, Aravinda de Silva and Dilshan.
Dilshan,
63 overnight, played some good shots in the opening session and reached
his 16th Test hundred when he turned left-arm spinner Elias Sunny to
square-leg for a single.
Dilshan and Sangakkara fell in the space of 19 runs after lunch, but not before putting on 213 for the second wicket.
Sangakkara,
49 overnight, was caught by Jahurul Islam off Mahmudullah at short
mid-wicket while Dilshan was caught by Abul Hasan at deep square-leg off
the same bowler after hitting nine fours in his 190-ball knock.
Bangladesh
also put in a solid batting performance in the match as they posted
their highest Test total of 638 in their first innings on Monday in
reply to Sri Lanka's 570-4 declared.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim
top-scored with 200, the first Test double-century by a Bangladeshi
batsman. Mohammad Ashraful (190) and Nasir Hossain (100) were the other
main scorers.
The second and final Test starts in Colombo on Saturday.