Mushfiqur Makes History Before Sri Lanka Rally

Mushfiqur Makes History Before Sri Lanka Rally

Mushfiqur Rahim became the first man to score a double-century for Bangladesh on day four in Galle. Mohammad Ashraful also added 190 and Nasir Hossain reached a maiden century.

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Sri Lanka 570-4 dec. & 116-1 (Dilshan 63no) v
Bangladesh 638 (Mushfiqur Rahim 200)
First Test, Galle, day four
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two | Day Three
Report by John Pennington

Bangladesh posted a national record score of 638 after their first ever Test double-century came from the bat of Mushfiqur Rahim on day four of the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Replying to Sri Lanka's 570 for four declared, Bangladesh claimed a first-innings lead, although Sri Lanka had moved back ahead at stumps by closing on 116 for one in their second innings.

Mushfiqur made exactly 200, Mohammad Ashraful hit 190 and the pair extended their record partnership for the fifth wicket to 267, adding just six runs in the morning before Ashraful was caught by Angelo Mathews off Rangana Herath.

Nasir Hossain (100) then registered his maiden Test century, but Sri Lanka closed the day strongly thanks to an unbeaten 63 from Tillakaratne Dilshan, which left them 48 runs ahead.

Ashraful, whose 190 in 417 balls was his fifth century against Sri Lanka, hit 20 fours and a six while Mushfiqur, who made his second century a big one, faced 321 balls, hitting 22 fours and a six. Their partnership was just the second worth more than 200 in Bangladesh Test history.

After Ashraful was dismissed, Mushfiqur put on 106 with Nasir, who needed just 147 balls to reach his century, going no further, however, before being caught by Dimuth Karunaratne off Dilshan. Mushfiqur had by then been trapped in front by Nuwan Kulasekara as Sri Lanka fought back after being completely dominated on day three.

Sohag Gazi (21), Elias Sunny (0) and Shahadat Hossain (13) then fell relatively cheaply towards the end, leaving Abul Hasan unbeaten on 16 - and courtesy of his century on debut against West Indies, a Test average of 136.

Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Herath, Ajantha Mendis and Dilshan all took two wickets.

Bangladesh then got off to the perfect start with the ball as Shahadat had Karunaratne caught by Abul for three, reducing Sri Lanka to 17 for one.

However, the experienced pair of Dilshan (63 not out in 87 balls) and Kumar Sangakkara (49 in 78 deliveries) steered the home side to stumps with no further alarms.

Sangakkara (142), along with Lahiru Thirimanne (155) and Dinesh Chandimal (116 not out), scored a century in Sri Lanka's first innings.

The match tally of six centurions is the highest since England drew with South Africa at Lord's in 2008, and with a draw now all but assured, the overall record of eight could yet be under threat.

© Cricket World 2013