1st Test: Rahim writes history for Bangladesh

Captain scores double-ton against SL to lead team to highest Test total.

GALLE: Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladesh player to crack a double-century while Nasir Hossain hit a maiden ton as the tourists gained a 68-run lead in the first Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Captain Rahim hit a solid 200 and Hossain an impressive 100 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 638, their highest total in 76 Tests, in reply to Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 570 for four declared.

The hosts reached 116 for one in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day of the Test, which appears to be heading for a draw in Galle. Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was unbeaten on 63 and Kumar Sangakkara was not out at 49.

Rahim’s memorable moment came in the second over after lunch when he pushed paceman Nuwan Kulasekara for a single to the covers on a day when Mohammad Ashraful (190) missed out on his own Test double-hundred.

“I am feeling great,” said Rahim. “It was my dream to score a Test hundred and thought if I get a chance to bat long I will probably go for a long innings. Ashraful really batted well and also Nasir. If we manage to draw tomorrow, it will be a huge relief for us. Our main target in Test matches is to play consistent cricket.”

Bangladesh, who dominated the match for a second successive day with their solid batting, also became only the third team after India and Pakistan to score 600 or more in a Test innings in Sri Lanka.

Rahim, 152 overnight, hit one six and 22 fours in his brilliant 321-ball knock.

Ashraful, playing his first Test in more than a year, added just one to his overnight score when he went for a rash drive off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and edged a catch to captain Angelo Mathews at first slip.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2013.