Mominul ton secures draw for Tigers
In a crucial comeback, Bangladesh today drew the second Test against Sri Lanka riding on a superb century by Mominul Haque and, most importantly, a resolute show of temperament by the batsmen.
Playing on second down, it is Mominul who with his 100 runs off 167 balls secured the draw especially after the home side had plunged into despair losing both the openers early in the innings as they struggled to score 467 in the second innings.
Sri Lanka however won the Sahara Cup two-match Test series for winning the first match by 248 runs and an innings.
With his 319 in the first innings and 105 in the second, Kumar Sangakkara emerged 'payer of the match'. He has also become 'player of the series'.
During the fifth and final day's match today, it was the show of temperament by Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque which turned the course of the game as the visitors employed their best to ensure the kill piling up a 466-run target for the home side.
Starting the day with 12 runs on the scorecard, Bangladeshi openers Shamsur Rahman and Tamim seemed very steady till the first breakthrough of Tamim stroke.
In the 30th over, Tamim was bowled by leggie Kithuruwan Vithanage and headed to the gallery on 31 runs.
Five overs later, the other opener, Shamsur Rahman, went back to the pavilion for 45 runs, bowled by off-spinner Dilruwan Perera.
The firm partnership between Imrul and Mominul later brought a good confidence among the spectators about an optimistic final result of the second Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Perera stroke again, picking up his second wicket of the innings by trapping Imrul in leg before in 54th over. Imrul scored 25 runs.
Later on, it was the story of comeback for the home side.
Mominul and Shakib posted a resolute stance, playing shots all across the field, at the same time not to play wrong shots.
Earlier, chasing Sri Lanka’s mammoth 587 runs, Bangladesh managed to score 426 runs on their first innings, trailing by 161 runs.
However, Lanka decided to put another 305-run load on the second innings, as a cherry on top, and set a huge target in front of Bangladesh on the last day of the match at the port cirty’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Ace Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara scored a triple ton on the first innings and another century on the second innings while rookie Bangladeshi batsmen Shamsur and Imrul managed to score their maiden centuries on the Tigers’ first innings.
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