2nd Test: Milestone man Sangakkara matches Gooch feat

Sri Lanka press for win as Bangladesh trail by 455 runs on day four

CHITTAGONG: Kumar Sangakkara became the second batsman in history to score a triple-century and a hundred in the same match as Sri Lanka pressed for victory in the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday.

The tourists, who led by 161 runs in the first-innings, declared their second knock at 305 for four in the post-tea session of the fourth day’s play at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

Bangladesh, set an improbable target of 467 to record a series-levelling win, were 12 for 0 at stumps with Tamim Iqbal on seven and Shamsur Rahman on four.

Sri Lanka will begin the final day needing 10 wickets to sweep the two-match series, while Bangladesh require another 455 runs in a minimum of 90 overs.

Left-handed Sangakkara followed his 319 in the first-innings with 105 in the second, joining Englishman Graham Gooch as the only batsmen to achieve the rare feat.

Gooch made 333 and 123 against India at Lord’s in 1990.

Sangakkara, with 34 three-figure knocks already under his belt, added one more to the tally with a six off Sohag Gazi after tea, but was bowled off the next delivery.

Dinesh Chandimal remained unbeaten on 100, having shared a fourth-wicket stand of 145 with Sangakkara after Sri Lanka wobbled at the start.

‘The target will help us but pressure on Bangladesh’

Sri Lankan opener Kaushal Silva said there was enough time left in the match to force a win.

“With this target, we will be able to put pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen and set attacking fields,” said the opener. “If we bowl our overs quickly tomorrow [Saturday], we can even get in 100 overs. That should be good enough to bowl them out.”

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Imrul Kayes conceded it will be tough to win the Test, but hoped the hosts can pull off a draw.

“If we can bat till lunch without losing a wicket, we will be able to draw the match easily,” he said. “It won’t be wise to chase the runs because it’s a big target.”

Bangladesh were bowled out for 426 in their first knock within 25 minutes of the start in reply to Sri Lanka’s 587.