CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, 1 March 2006 — Mohammad Ashraful struck a sparkling ton as Bangladesh put up a gritty display on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka here yesterday.
The 21-year-old produced a well-paced knock of 136 that enabled Bangladesh to reach 315-9 at stumps after electing to bat. Shahadat Hossain (12) and Enamul Haque (one) were the not out batsmen at the close.
Bangladesh, who have lost all their five previous Tests against Sri Lanka, made a positive start in the two-match series, scoring 300 on a single day of a Test for the first time.
Ashraful, who slammed a century on debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001, once again showed his liking for their bowlers as he played both pace and spin with ease.
He smashed 15 fours and three sixes during his 186-ball knock and got to his third century in 30 Tests with a lovely pulled four off paceman Lasith Malinga.
Ashraful was involved in two useful partnerships that boosted the total after a double strike from leg-spinner Malinga Bandara had pushed them on to the back foot.
Ashraful added 65 for the fourth wicket with Shahriar Nafees (27) and dominated a 64-run stand for the fifth with former skipper Khaled Mashud, who scored just six off 50 deliveries.
Mashud, next man Alok Kapali (16) and Ashraful all fell in the last session to spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is playing his 100th Test.
Ashraful lofted a ball toward mid-wicket, where Upul Tharanga took a well-judged catch.
Earlier, Bandara struck two quick blows before lunch.
He bowled Nafees Iqbal (34) off the last ball of his first over and then trapped captain Habibul Bashar (29) lbw with the first ball of his next as Bangladesh fell from a comfortable 76-1 to 81-3.
Iqbal and Bashar had added 72 in just over 26 overs but Malinga pegged back the home side with the quick dismissals after opener Javed Omar (four) fell to Lasith Malinga.
The second Test will be held in the northern city of Bogra from March 8.
Symonds Training, but Aussie Injury Doubts Remain
In Cape Town, all-rounder Andrew Symonds took part in light training yesterday with Australia still unsure whether they will have a full-strength squad available for Friday’s second One-Day International against South Africa.
Symonds had to miss Sunday’s first game of the five-match series in Centurion due to a thigh strain, while injuries to captain Ricky Ponting (abdominal strain) and paceman Stuart Clark (bruised ribs) left Australia with just 11 fit players.
Cricket Australia announced on Monday that top-order batsman Phil Jaques would be flying to South Africa during the week to act as batting cover.
“We’re not much closer to knowing who’s going to be fit again for Friday,” Errol Alcott, the Australian team’s physiotherapist, admitted yesterday.
Ponting took no part in the training session, while Clark said he would start bowling again tomorrow and hoped to be fit for Friday’s match. The South Africans, who won the opening game by six wickets, arrive in Cape Town today.
