CHITTAGONG: Mohammad Ashraful struck a sparkling hundred as Bangladesh put up a gritty display on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old produced a well-paced knock of 136 that enabled Bangladesh to reach 315 for nine at stumps after electing to bat. Shahadat Hossain (12) and Enamul Haque (one) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

Bangladesh, which has lost all its 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.

Third century in Tests

Ashraful, who slammed a century on debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001, once again showed his liking for the Lankan 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 Bangladesh on to the back foot.

Ashraful added 65 for the fourth wicket with Shahriar Nafees (27) and then dominated a 64-run stand for the fifth with former skipper Khaled Mashud, who scored just six off 50 deliveries.

Mashud, Alok Kapali (16) and Ashraful all fell in the last session to veteran spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is playing his 100th Test.

Focus on Murali

The focus was on the off-spinner who is only 16 wickets away from his 600th Test wicket and is second only to Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne.

However, Muralitharan had to wait until after lunch for his first wicket of the match when he removed Mashud (6). Ashraful's stay ended when Upul Tharanga at mid-wicket took a well-judged catch off a lofted shot.

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) leg-before with the first ball of his next as Bangladesh fell from a comfortable 76 for one to 81 for three.

Iqbal and Bashar had added 72 in just over 26 overs after opener Javed Omar (four) fell to Malinga with just four runs on the board. — Agencies

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