Sri Lanka on top, Ashraful resists by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

Sri Lanka in Bangladesh 2008/09

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DateLine: 30th December 2008

 

Sri Lanka resumed the fourth day with a lead of 406 but for some reason did not press the gas. Mahela Jayawardene's 168, piled on the agony before declaring. Bangladesh picked up two wickets, that of the overnight batsmen, but those wickets were not due to bowlers prising the batsmen out but batsmen getting bored and trying to do something to enliven the proceedings. Jayawardene began his scoring like how he ended Day 3 by nudging the singles and he was content in doing so with no signs of urgency. Upon reaching his ninth score of 150-plus he got a little too cheeky and got out top-edging a reverse sweep to first slip. Tillakaratne Dilshan was the enterprising of the duo as he tried to go after the bowlers. With the field spread wide out singles were easily available for the batsmen. He finally got out edging to the keeper. Sri Lanka declared shortly afterwards, giving Bangladesh eight overs to survive before lunch.

 

Tamim and Imrul got the chase off to a sound start if not a blazing one. played sensibly but unfortunately lost a wicket against the run of play. Tamim pushed the ball to cover, set off for a risky single but Kayes backing up a little too slowly and was a yard or to short of his ground when Dilshan effected the direct hit.

 

The need of the post-lunch session was to consolidate. The top order got the starts but once again they failed to kick on for a substantial innings. Dammika Prasad bowled on the shorter side to the left-handed duo of Junaid Siddique and Tamim Iqbal, who were looking to get positive. Tamim Iqbal was positive and essayed some of his trademark scorching shots. However, a lapse in concentration saw him gloving a Prasad bouncer down the leg side to Prasanna Jayawardene, while trying to hook.

 

Tamim's dismissal didn't seem to affect Junaid as he bravely attempted similar hook shots against Prasad's barrage of bouncers. He looked assured against Muttiah Muralitharan, but he to was too good to last long edging or gloving for that matter to Mahela at first slip.That dismissal ended an enterprising stand of 52 between Junaid and Raqibul Hasan.

 

Raqibul was patience personified and held one end up. He too had made a sound start before being squared up by a Muralitharan doosra. Mohammad Ashraful looked positive against the spinners. However, it was to Bangladesh's misfortune that they lost a well-set Raqibul close to tea.

 

The way the Bangladeshi batsmen showed guts and gumption during the chase was commendable but the way they played post tea session exceeded the expectation of the fans. At the time of stumps they had lost only one wicket that off Mehrab Hossain jnr to Muralitharan. But aside from that blip things went smoothly for the Bangladesh team.

 

Ashraful was always seen to be a talented cricketer but due to his unsound judgments in his shot making he left his fans and admirers tearing their hairs in despair. An average of 22.47 hardly does any justice to such a talented cricketer. But today's performance would make them smile. At the end of the day his personal score stands at 70 of 153 balls which is studded with 11 boundaries. He was well supported by Shakib Al Hasan as the pair batted for 30 overs putting on an unbeaten 74 runs.

 

The run rate was not much to canter about but the way the youngsters applied themselves at the batting crease battling the wiles of Vaas and the guile of Murali was heartening for the fans. The threat of both the bowlers were negotiated and then neutered by the pair. Whenever an attacking opportunity rose Ashraful would go after but then he was willing to wait. His team requires a further 267 runs to win the match and Sri Lanka needs 5 wickets. It will make for a gripping contest tomorrow. Bangladesh finished the day at 254 for five.