Bangladesh and Sri Lanka drew the first Test in Chittagong on Thursday after Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella hung on for the visitors in a vital seventh-wicket stand of 99.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the fifth and final day the two teams settled on a draw 45 minutes before the scheduled close of play with Sri Lanka on 260-6 in their second innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dickwella was unbeaten on 61 alongside Chandimal on 39 not out at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hosts Bangladesh made 465 in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka's 397 as Tamim Iqbal (133) and Mushfiqur Rahim (105) played starring roles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Player-of-the-match Angelo Mathews hit 199 to form the backbone of the Sri Lankan first innings and Nayeem Hasan claimed 6-105 for Bangladesh.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Thursday left-arm spin duo Taijul Islam and Shakib Al Hasan had given Bangladesh hope of victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne made 52 off 138 balls before he gave a catch to his counterpart Mominul Haque at midwicket off the dangerous Taijul, who ended with figures of 4-82.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shakib soon had Dhananjaya de Silva out for 33 off 60 balls as Mushfiqur took the catch, also at midwicket, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 161-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dickwella swept the next ball high but Taijul could only manage to get a finger on it at square leg.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After the scare, he and Chandimal dug in at the crease before and after the tea break to stubbornly thwart the home side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We tried to do something differently and put them under pressure, but we played some poor shots and then we had to change tactics," Karunaratne said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We unfortunately couldn't put pressure on Bangladesh on the last day."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Taijul struck twice in the morning session after Sri Lanka started aggressively, resuming on 39-2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Taijul bowled Kusal Mendis for 48 and then removed first-innings centurion Mathews for a duck, caught and bowled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh were one bowler short on the fifth day after paceman Shoriful Islam was ruled out of the two-Test series following a blow he received on his hand while batting on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The second innings was a bit disappointing, but Shakib bowled really well in both innings. We missed Shoriful for sure, but we managed to cover for him," skipper Mominul said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Every time we have to keep improving, batting, bowling or fielding, we have to keep getting better."<\/p>\r\n\r\n