Shanto hits twin tons as Bangladesh draw first test against Sri Lanka
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto blasted twin centuries to help his side draw the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday, while Angelo Mathews brought the curtain down on his red-ball career after more than 100 games for the hosts.
Shanto followed up his first-innings hundred with an unbeaten 125 in the second stanza after Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for 49, and Bangladesh declared on 285-6 to set Sri Lanka a steep victory target of 296 runs from 37 overs.
Sri Lanka lost a couple of quick wickets before Mathews, a veteran with more than 8,000 test runs to his name, held steadfast with the bat - albeit barely scoring any runs. In the end, Bangladesh called it a day with the score on 72-4 with five overs left.
Bangladesh had made Sri Lanka toil on the opening two days, amassing 495 runs in their first innings including 148 for Shanto and 163 for Rahim, with Litton Das (90) unlucky to miss out on a century of his own.
What followed was a batting tug-of-war on a placid wicket as Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka piled up 187 runs before Dinesh Chandimal (54) and Kamindu Mendis (87) helped the hosts reach 485 to concede only a 10-run lead at the halfway mark.
TURN AND BOUNCE
Bangladesh off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who had begun to extract turn and bounce on a pitch showing signs of wear on the fourth day, claimed 5-121 - his fourth five-wicket haul in tests - to ensure Sri Lanka could not build a lead of their own.
The tourists then roared to 177-3 in their second innings at the end of the penultimate day for a healthy advantage, with Shadman Islam (76) giving them the chance to push for a rare overseas test victory and valuable World Test Championship points.
After showers late in the opening session on the fifth day wiped out 26 overs, Shanto reached his well-deserved hundred and asked Sri Lanka to bat again and attempt to chase down their big target at an asking rate of eight runs an over.
Former captain Mathews, who scored 39 in Sri Lanka's first innings, showed resilience in the final session and received a standing ovation when he fell for eight off 45 balls in his 119th and final test.
The result was the first drawn game in Galle for 12 years. The second test starts in Colombo next Wednesday and the two sides later play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Former Scotland captain McLauchlan dies at 83
Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions prop Ian McLauchlan has died at the age of 83, Scottish Rugby said on Saturday. Known as "Mighty Mouse" because he was a lot smaller than most loosehead props, Mclauchlan won 43 Scotland caps, captained his country 19 times and helped the Lions to series victories over New Zealand and South Africa. He led Scotland in a test against England in 1973 two weeks after breaking his leg during a match against Ireland. "He was so tough, almost indestructible. What a fantastic career he had for Scotland, and the Lions; it's very, very sad," said Andy Irvine, a former Scottish Rugby President and McLauchlan's teammate for Scotland and the Lions. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Duckett, Pope survive scares to continue England revival
Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 21, 2025 India's Rishabh Pant walks after losing his wicket by LBW, off the bowling of England's Josh Tongue Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS LEEDS, England - Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope steadied the ship to give England hope of mounting a comeback on day two of the first test against India at Headingley with the hosts 107-1 at tea, 364 runs behind. England had earlier dismissed India for 471, taking the last seven wickets in an hour either side of lunch to drag themselves back into the match after the touring side had dominated day one. Resuming on 359-3, India captain Shubman Gill quickly moved past his highest score in test cricket, supported by the flamboyant Rishabh Pant, to put India in total control, heading towards lunch on 430 with the loss of no further wickets. Pant was sweeping and scooping to his heart's content, often ending up on his knees, fittingly moving to his seventh test ton with another six into the crowd, celebrated with a forward somersault. After Gill fell for 147 chasing another maximum, India's lower order collapsed as they lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs. In reply, in much more difficult, overcast conditions, the highest-ranked test bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah, struck early to remove England opener Zak Crawley for four in the first over and caused problems for Duckett and Pope. Duckett was dropped on 15 and survived a DRS review, both off the bowling of Bumrah, with Pope also coming out on the right side of a review, before the pair settled and calmly took England past 100. Another fine sweep shot took Duckett to his 19th test half century just before tea, and he was unbeaten on 53 at the interval with Pope on 48. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Mbappe skips training again, set to miss Pachuca game
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida - Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe skipped Saturday's collective training session and was set to miss the 15-times European champions' Group H game against Pachuca at the Club World Cup as he recovered from illness, the club said. Mbappe, who was admitted to a Miami area hospital earlier this week with acute gastroenteritis, had stayed at the team hotel and would not be travelling to Charlotte, North Carolina, for Sunday's match, a Real spokesperson said. Mbappe was ruled out of Real's opening game against Al-Hilal, which ended in a 1-1 draw and left RB Salzburg top of the table with three points after they beat Mexican side Pachuca 2-1. Mbappe had been isolated from his team mates since Tuesday before being taken to hospital on Wednesday, and was discharged on Thursday. A club source said earlier this week that Mbappe was not expected to take part in any group game at the Club World Cup. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
