Tigers celebrating 100th Test with historic win over Sri Lanka

Staff Correspondent :  Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in what was their 100th match in the longest format. Set a modest 191-run target, the visitors rode on Tamim Iqbal’s brisk start and the composed 109-stand in the middle overs.

This win makes Bangladesh only the second team, after Pakistan, from the sub-continent to register a win in their 100th Test.

Tamim gave the team a positive start and reached the fifty-run mark in the 27th over of the innings. He had Sabbir Rahman for company and the pair, after a couple of early wickets, dropped anchor and put on 109 runs for the third wicket.

Both fell in quick succession but with Shakib-al-Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to follow, a win was pretty much on the cards for the Tigers. Shakib had a steady stand with Rahim but fell after entering double digits. The right-hander, however, held fort and with Mehedi Hasan he saw the side home.

had plenty of nervy moments though, especially after Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed with 29 still required in the 191-run chase. Soon after, umpire S Ravi adjudged Mushfiqur Rahim lbw, which was overturned on review. In the next over, Herath couldn’t hold on to a return catch offered by a powerful Mosaddek Hossain drive.

Mosaddek went after Herath again, skewing a drive over cover for four. Two more fours brought the target down to six runs. Mosaddek was then caught behind with two runs to get. Mehedi Hasan hit the winning runs, sparking wild celebrations in the Bangladesh camp.

Bangladesh, coming into this game on the back of a timid performance in Galle, the messy axing of Mahmudullah and the late injury to Liton Das, found the focus they needed to level the series.

Earlier in the day’s play, Kulswan Perera hit his fifth Test half-century and stitched a 80-run partnership with Surunga Lakmal to help his side recover from the early hiccups and set Bangladesh a 191-run target.

Shakib and Mustafizur Rahman were pick of the bowlers as they returned with four and three wickets respectively in the second innings. Sri Lanka were off to a brilliant start but the middle-order collapse didn’t allow them to set a formidable target for Bangladesh.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh (1st Innings: Shakib Al Hasan 116 , Mosaddek Hossain 75; Rangana Herath 4/82; 2nd innings: Tamim Iqbal 82, Sabbir Rahman 42; Dilruwan Perera 3/50) beat Sri Lanka (1st Innings: Dinesh Chandimal 138, Suranga Lakmal 35; Mehedi Hasan Miraz 3/90; 2nd innings: Dimuth Karunaratne 126, Dilruwan Perera 50; Shakib Al Hasan 4/74)