Chandimal, Dickwella cling on as Sri Lanka draw Bangladesh Test

After a crucial seventh-wicket stand between Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka drew the first Test in Chittagong on Thursday.

The two teams agreed to a draw 45 minutes before the scheduled end of play on the fifth and final day, with Sri Lanka on 260-6 in their second innings.

At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Dickwella was unbeaten on 61 and Chandimal was unbeaten on 39 not out.

Hosts In response to Sri Lanka’s 397, Bangladesh scored 465 in their first innings, with Tamim Iqbal (133) and Mushfiqur Rahim (105) playing key roles.

Angelo Mathews scored 199 to anchor Sri Lanka’s first innings, while Nayeem Hasan took 6-105 for Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi left-arm spinners Taijul Islam and Shakib Al Hasan had given the home side hope with early strikes on Thursday, but Chandimal and Dickwella stopped them.

Before giving a catch to his counterpart Mominul Haque at midwicket off Taijul, Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne struck 52 from 138 balls.

Shakib had Dhananjaya de Silva out for 33 off 60 balls, with Mushfiqur Rahim taking the catch at midwicket, and Sri Lanka were reduced to 161-6.

The next ball was swept high by Dickwella, but Taijul could only get a finger on it at square leg. He and Chandimal dug in at the crease before and after the tea break after the scare.

After an aggressive start by Sri Lanka, Taijul struck twice in the morning session as the team resumed on 39-2.

Taijul dismissed Kusal Mendis for 48 runs and then caught and bowled first-innings centurion Mathews for a duck.

With innings stats of 4-82, Taijul was the standout of the bowlers.

On the fifth day, Bangladesh were one bowler short after paceman Shoriful Islam was ruled out of the two-Test series due to a blow to his hand while batting on Wednesday.

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