Joy Bangla Cup Test Series: Bangladesh Vs Sri Lanka Second Test Played at P Sara Stadium Colombo

Score Card:
Sri Lanka 338 and 319 lost to Bangladesh 467 and 191/6 by 4 wickets.
Series Drawn 1-1
Man Of The Series: Shakib Al Hasan, Man of The Match: Tamim Iqbal.

Bengal tigers made Bangladesh proud yet again. Winning the centurion test against Sri Lanka through a very impressive team effort Bangladesh announced its intention for a bright future in the longer version of test cricket. Chasing a victory target of 191 on the last day on a wearing wicket against a very strong Sri Lankan spin attack Bangladesh cantered home after tea with 4 wickets at hand. At different stages every single player of the team contributed. Tamim, Shakib, Mushfique, Mosaddeq, Soumya, Shabbir, Meraj made use contribution with the bat. Shakib, Mehedi, Mustafiz bowled the team into match winning position. Mushfique, Soumya and Mustafiz took some outstanding catches.
In over 140 years of test cricket only three teams Australia, West Indies and Pakistan won their respective matches on their 100th test. Bangladesh joined that select group winning its 100 th test against respective oppositions. This was also the first win of Bangladesh in any format of the game in 2017. It was also the first test win against a full strength superior team on their own ground. Bangladesh earlier won test matches abroad against below ranked Zimbabwe and weakened West Indies. In many other considerations this win will serve a good impact on Bangladesh cricket think tank, who appear to be least interested in the longer version of the game. Major cricket playing nations and ICC would now be pushed for letting Bangladesh play more often in bilateral test series. Mustafiz, Soumya, Shabbir , Meraj , Subhashish as new crop of quality youngsters alongside established players like Tamim, Shakib, Mushfique, Mominul and Imrul will soon prove a formidable opposition in test cricket as well.
The count down for history creation was signalled yesterday with vistors finishing day four at 268/8. They were only 136 runs ahead with two wickets in tact. On fifth morning two not out batsmen Perrera and Lakmal were threatening taking the match away. Poorer was a symbol of patience, Lakmal was punishing all loose deliveries. The pair put on 80 priceless runs in the 9th wicket. Perrera himself batted 239 deliveries for his 50. Only a mix up running on a misfiled had him run out. Shakib wiped out the tail in no time at 319. Leading all rounder grabbing 4/ 74 complemented the brilliant efforts of freak genius Mustafiz who changed the course of the match with an exceptional spell of pace bowling in the post lunch session of day four. Mustafiz took 3/ 78.
Bangladesh was set a target of 191 to win about 35 minutes before lunch. Less experienced Soumya tried to blow out Sri Lankan attack unnecessarily creating pressure on number three batsman coming only minutes before the break. He succumbed on the very first ball. Bangladesh was not looking good at lunch losing two wickets for 22 runs. However, Tamim and Shabbir played exceptionally well after lunch stitching together a match winning 109 runs partnership. Tamim could carry on winning the match single handed but a brain freeze for no reason cost him loose his wicket at his own score of 82. His departure heralded a mini collapse. Shabbir ,Shakib and Mossaddeq could not last long. However, Mushfique and Meraj saw the team go across the victory tape winning by 4 wickets.
Bangladesh won the test drew the series rewriting few records. Teams chasing on the fourth innings at Colombo hardly won tests. Bangladesh joined Australia, West Indies and Pakistan winning the 100th test. Tamim for his brilliant batting on a difficult wicket won the man of the match, Shakib for his brilliant all round performance won man of the series.
Drawing the series against very strong Sri Lanka at their own backyards must be considered a landmark achievement. In recent times even Australia got Lanka washed in test series in not too distant past.

**Bangladesh win historic 100th test against Sri Lanka

BDST: 2020 HRS, MAR 19, 2017
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