9 Feb 2014

Bangladesh salvage a rare draw

1:49 pm on 9 February 2014

Mominul Haque has hit an unbeaten century to steer Bangladesh to a draw in the second and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Chittagong, leaving the tourists with a 1-0 series win.

Bangladesh, who needed to bat out their second innings after being set an improbable victory target of 467, were 271 for three when stumps were drawn on the fifth day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

Mominul, a 22-year-old left-hander, held the innings together till both sides accepted the draw as soon as he reached 100, his third Test century, in the post-tea session.

Sri Lanka, who won the first Test by an innings and 248 runs in Dhaka last week, failed to dislodge the hosts who appeared determined to salvage their battered reputation.

It was only the second draw in 16 Tests between the two countries, with Sri Lanka have won the other 14 matches, eight of them by an innings margin.

Bangladesh, who languish at the bottom of the Test rankings at number 10, have lost 68 of their 83 Tests since gaining full status in 2000, winning just four.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will now engage in two Twenty20 matches in Chittagong before starting a three-match one-day series in Sylhet on February 17.