Ashraful on song is a delight for cricketers and spectators alike. His unbeaten 129, though in a lost cause, was certainly something to behold. However, the problem is that it has rarely happened during the talented right-hander's six-year career. After a duck in the first innings, Ashraful with this brilliant innings also answered back to the critics who believe that Bangladesh are an ugly sister in the elite Test family.

True, Bangladesh still crashed to a heavy defeat of an innings and 90 runs, but his effort in company with young wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who put on a record 191 runs for the sixth wicket with his captain, gave the evidence that Bangladesh can make the five-day game meaningful.

Understandably the new Bangladesh skipper was not a happy man at the end following his side's huge defeat but he said that his team at least gained something before the third and final Test at Kandy from July 11.

"As a batsman I might be happy but as a captain it is not a day for me to cheer. My partnership with Mushfiqur just gave the impression that we have the ability to play better cricket in the longer-version," said Ashraful, who was tremendously under pressure to deliver in his first assignment as skipper.

The 22-year-old became the first Bangladeshi batsman to score four Test hundreds, three against Sri Lanka, but he said that it could have been much better.

"It should have been more than four. I am not satisfied with the number. I'm now hungry for more because I believe that I have got the quality to contribute more for my country," said Ashraful, who also holds the record of the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi (158 not out India at Chittagong).

"I was desperately looking for a big score to silence the critics who thought captaincy put a burden on me as a batsman," he said.

Ashraful also informed that he always loved to play the Lankan bowlers and that's why he scored maximum hundreds including his maiden one on Test debut at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in 2001.

"I love their bowling. I can easily pick Murali. Besides, they create a lot of noises all around which gave me special inspiration to do something better. I played a couple of bad shots today otherwise I felt like could do everything I wanted to do," said the stylish batsman, who scored 114 and 136 against Sri Lanka before yesterday's success.

He also urged the millions of fans to keep faith on the team.

"We have been trying our best to play the Test cricket as it should be played. We have failed at times but I request everybody to be patient because it is impossible to do anything overnight. We need some time to get the reward of our hard work," he hoped.

"It could have been fantastic had we pushed the game into the fourth day. I think Mushfiqur's dismissal spoiled everything but I must praise his effort. What a fantastic knock it was! The way he played was not so common in our cricket and he just took the pressure off me. My intention was not to throw my wicket and I was successful at the end," he explained.

Mushfiqur was also satisfied with his performance although he missed out on his maiden hundred.

"I am satisfied because I could do something as a batsman for the team. It's always good to contribute something for the team in its bad time. It's a great experience to bat against such a good attack," said Mushfiqur, who was picked for the Test ahead of veteran Khaled Mashud for his batting abilities.

"It was a fantastic experience to bat with our most talented batsman. He always supported me during our partnership. I think confidence is the key behind any success and I have the confidence to cope at this level," said a confident Mushfiqur.