Colombo - Opener
Tamim Iqbal top-scored with 82 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 - meant the two-Test series was
drawn after the visitors suffered a 259-run loss in Galle.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina phoned the team to
congratulate them as hundreds of fans marched through the capital Dhaka,
waving flags and chanting in celebration.
With his team chasing a victory target of 191, teenager Mehedi Hasan
hit the winning run after an anxious half-hour in the final session of
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 (41) for a third-wicket partnership of 109.
Sri Lanka struck in phases through spinners Dilruwan Perera and
skipper Rangana Herath, who grabbed three wickets each. But the attack
lacked the cutting edge to prevent 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 of victory.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan got Bangladesh through to
tea with 35 runs still needed, but Perera got a lucky break soon after
the resumption when Shakib dragged a ball onto his stumps and was out
for 15.
Mushfiqur remained unbeaten on 22 to get Bangladesh home in company
with Mehedi, after some support from debutant Mosaddek Hossain, who made
13.
“Obviously I feel great,” Mushfiqur said.
“The boys really stepped up under pressure and there were lot of
partnerships in the bowling. I really enjoyed it. If you look at the
last few series, we have played some good cricket.”
Herath appeared to
have given Sri Lanka some control when he picked up two wickets in two
balls to leave Bangladesh struggling on 38-2 at the lunch break.
He claimed his first wicket when opener Soumya Sarkar, charging down
the pitch, was deceived by the turn and lofted a catch to Upul Tharanga
at mid-off for 10.
Imrul Kayes then edged the next ball to Asela Gunaratne in the slips for a duck.
Herath said Sri Lanka would go back to the drawing board after suffering their first defeat of his captaincy.
“We have a lot of areas to improve, but this is not the time to talk about it. We will talk with the coaches," he said.
Earlier in the day Perera and Suranga Lakmal frustrated Bangladesh
for more than an hour with the bat as Sri Lanka added 51 to their
overnight 268-8.
Perera scored his fourth Test fifty off 174 balls while tail-ender
Lakmal smashed 42 off 48 balls. The pair shared 80 runs for the ninth
wicket before Bangladesh separated them through a run out.
Tamim was named man of the match while Shakib, who scored a century
and claimed six wickets in the game, took the award for player of the
series.
“This was a very important win. It wasn't easy. We had to come back strong after the first Test,” Shakib said.