COLOMBO: Bangladesh clinched a historic four-wicket win in their 100th Test match, also their first ever Test victory against Sri Lanka, to secure a series draw on Sunday.
Needing 191 to win, the tourists reached their target losing six wickets in the final session. Tamim Iqbal top scored with 82, his 22nd Test half-century and shared 109 runs for the second wicket with Shabbir Rahman (41).
Sri Lanka batted first having won the toss and made 338 in its first innings. Bangladesh were bowled out for 467, a 129-run first innings lead. Sri Lanka then made 319 in its second innings.
Iqbal and Rahman stalled a potential collapse of Bangladesh's chase with a 109-run partnership for the third wicket after Sri Lanka captain Rangan Herath took two wickets in successive deliveries to leave the tourists struggling on 22 for two.
Iqbal faced 124 deliveries for his 82 runs that included seven boundaries and a six. He was brilliantly caught by Dinesh Chandimal in the outfield off offspinner Dilruwan Perera. Rahman made 42 before being trapped lbw by Perera.
Shakib Al Hasan was bowled by Perera on 15 and Mosaddek Hossain (13) was caught by wicketkeeper Nirishan Dickwella off Herath.
Captain Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 22 and fittingly scored the winning runs for Bangladesh.
Of the 17 Test matches played between the sides previously, Sri Lanka won 15 while two were drawn.
Perera took three wickets for 59 while Herath had three for 75.
Earlier in the morning session Sri Lanka resumed their second innings on 268-8, a lead of 139 runs, and added another 51 valuable runs in the morning session to set Bangladesh a target of 191, thanks mostly to Dilruwan Perera and Suranga Lakmal, who put on 80 runs for the ninth wicket.
Perera patiently completed his half-century but was then run out for 50 at the non-striker's end following a mix-up on a misfield.
Lakmal added one more to the total before he fell for 42 in the next over, bringing an end to the innings. Herath, the veteran left-arm spinner had opener Saumya Sarkar caught at long on by Upul Tharaga for 10 with a cleverly disguised shorter ball, then he dismissed Imrul Kayes for a golden duck when he found a thick edge and Asela Gunaratne held a sharp chance at slip, leaving Iqbal and Rahman to rescue the innings.
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