Knew on first day that it was going to be a draw: SL batsman Dhananjaya de Silva on 1st Test match vs BAN
India Today
The Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka first Test match came to a draw after Sri Lanka saw out Bangladesh comfortably in the fifth and the final day of the Test match.
The first Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka concluded in a draw in Chattogram. The teams agreed upon a drawn game 15 overs before the conclusion of the final day after Sri Lanka declared on 260/6. Sri Lanka batter Dhananjaya de Silva, disappointed with the wicket, said after the game that they knew the Chattogram Test was going to be a draw on Day 1 when Sri Lanka walked out to bat.
“Definitely it was going to be a draw,” Sri Lanka batter Dhananjaya de Silva said. ”We knew it on the first day when they were batting, also. There was a very slight chance of Bangladesh to win but the wicket didn't have anything for the bowlers. We are very happy with the draw.”
The visiting team put up a big total of 397 runs in the first innings owing to Angelo Matthews’ 199. In return, Bangladesh replied with a rapid knock from Tamim Iqbal, who retired hurt due to excessive heat after scoring 133.
The burden of scoring was then taken up by Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das, who took Bangladesh to a safe 465 runs. With virtually no help for the bowlers and awry lines from the Bangladesh pacers, the hope team failed to exert any pressure and Sri Lanka managed an easy draw on day 5.
"The result could have been different had we got one more wicket,” said Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque."But the good thing is that as a team we played well. Our batters lived up to the expectation. The spinners bowled well but the pacers couldn't hit the proper line and length. Hopefully they will fix it in the next test. When we play as a team, it is tough for other teams to beat us.”
The second match of the series will be played in Mirpur where the spinners are expected to get a lot of turn.
