Tigers grind out a draw
The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended in a draw as both captains agree to shake hands with only an hour remaining till stumps on Day 5.
Mahudullah Riyad remained not out on 28 while Mosaddek Hossain was unbeaten on eight from 53 deliveries. Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahman all fell in the last session on Day 4 which gave the Lankans a sight of victory. However, the 180-run fourth-wicket partnership between Mominul Haque and Liton Das eventually pulled Bangladesh out from the hole they were digging themselves into and enabled them to draw the Test match. Mominul (105) once again was in fantastic form, scoring a ton in the second innings as well while Liton Das fell for 94, missing out on what would have been a well-deserved ton. Sri Lanka came back into the match by grabbing the wickets of both Mominul and Liton is quick succession before tea on Day 5 but skipper Mahmudullah along with Mossaddek saw off the Lankan challenge to grind out a draw without further loss of wickets.
SL back in the game with two quick wickets before tea
Following Mominul Haque's depature, Tigers would have done well to reconsider the match scenario and keep their calm however, Liton Das, who was nearing his maiden Test ton, gave away his wicket at a crucial point in the game, trying to play a lofted drive over the infield in the 83rd over, bowled by Rangana Herath.
Sri Lanka are still on top despite a strong showing by the Bangladesh batsmen in the morning session as they managed to get the crucial wickets of both Mominul and Liton Das before tea.
Sri Lanka had been able to put a little pressure on the Bangladesh duo as they managed to dry up runs at both ends. Mominul, who had been persistent in his innings prodded at a delivery outside the off-stump as the ball was spinning away further and only managed to nick it through to Karunaratne at slip-cordon.
Wicket: Liton Das c Perera b Herath 94 (182b 11x4 0x6) SR: 51.64 FOW 279/5
Wicket: Mominul Haque c Karunaratne b de Silva 105 (174b 5x4 2x6) SR: 60.34 FOW 261/4
Mominul first to score tons in both innings for Bangladesh
Mominul Haque becomes the first Bangladesh batsman to score tons in both innings of a Test match.
Mominul Haque turns up for the Tigers in the second innings as well, striking a ton to safely steer Bangladesh on Day 5 of the first Test at Chittagong.
Mominul has been ably partnered by Liton Das at the other end as the right hander, despite taking a few risks, managed to notch up his half-century as Bangladesh crossed the 200-mark in their second innings.In the 71st over of the innings, Mominul brought up his second hundred in this Test match with a cover drive off Sandakan.
The dimunitive left-hander was much more subdued in today's knock in comparison to his ton in the first innings as he reached his 100 in 154 deliveries with five fours and two sixes.
Mominul matches Sri Lanka's talismanic left-hander Kumar Sangakkara, who struck century in both innings of a Test match in the same venue against Bangladesh back in 2014 -- on this very same date, 4 February.
Mominul, Liton's strong partnership see out first session
A 106-run fourth-wicket partnership between Mominul Haque and Liton Das took the Tigers to 187 for three in the first session on Day 5 of the first Test.
Mominul followed up his first innings ton with a half century in the second innings when he whipped Dilruwan Perera through mid-wicket to run three runs. The pressure that Bangladesh were under, at the start of the morning session is evident from the contrast in temperament between Mominul's first innings knock and his fifty in the second innings.
He stepped out to Rangana Herath in the 31st over and got underneath a tossed up delivery to hit the bowler straight down the ground for six but apart from that, Mominul has focused on dealing with the changing nature of the pitch. The ball has turned a lot more sharply this morning out of the rough patches and Mominul has looked to negate the spin by getting to the pitch of the deliveries.
Liton Das at the other end was batting at 47 as Tigers negated Sri Lanka's efforts in the first hour after they had lost three key wickets on the last session of Day 4. Liton, who played solidly for most part of the innings played some premediated reverse-sweeps towards the end of the morning session but there was no disaster for the Tigers as they reach lunch on Day 5 without losing anymore wickets.
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