Mahela Jayawardene become Test cricket’s sixth-highest run-getter with a glorious unbeaten double-century as Sri Lanka compounded Bangladesh’s misery in the first Test in Dhaka yesterday.
The veteran right-hander made 203 not out, his seventh double-century in 33 three-figure knocks, as the tourists piled up 730-6 declared on the third day at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
Having gained a mammoth lead of 498 runs, Sri Lanka reduced Bangladesh to 35-1 in nine overs before stumps to step closer to an overwhelming victory in the first match of the two-Test series.
Photo: Reuters
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, brought on after three overs, struck with his third delivery when he forced Tamim Iqbal to mistime a shot which was caught at point.
Shamsur Rahman was unbeaten on 9 and Marshall Ayub was on 11 at the close, with Bangladesh still trailing by 463 runs.
Jayawardene leapfrogged Allan Border (11,174 runs) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11,219) to move behind record-holder Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara on the all-time list.
The 36-year-old former captain, who now has 11,236 runs in 142 matches, equaled teammate and close friend Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lankan record of 33 Test centuries.
Jayawardene smashed 16 boundaries and four sixes in a typically elegant innings, reaching 203 with a six over midwicket off Nasir Hossain.
Kithuruwan Vithanage joined the run-spree with an unbeaten 103 as Bangladesh conceded their highest ever total, surpassing 648-9 by the West Indies in Khulna, Bangladesh, in November 2012.
Vithanage, a 22-year-old left-hander playing his third Test, hit 12 fours and two sixes in his maiden century.
Bangladesh struggled to contain the runs on the even-paced wicket after Sri Lanka resumed the day on 375-5.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews partnered Jayawardene in a sixth-wicket stand of 179, himself making 86 before being dismissed before tea.
Mathews missed his third century when he mistimed a drive against spinner Sohag Gazi and was caught at short mid-on by Marshall Ayub.
That turned out to be Bangladesh’s lone success in the day as Vithanage helped Jayawardene add 176 for the seventh wicket, before Mathews declared.
The only time Jayawardene appeared in trouble was when he survived a loud appeal for leg before wicket on 119 as he attempted to reverse-sweep Sohag Gazi.
Jayawardene and Vithanage joined Kaushal Silva as the three century-makers in the innings.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan was Bangladesh’s most successful bowler with three wickets, but his 43 overs cost 159 runs.
Al-Amin Hossain had one for 118 in 32 overs, while fellow seamer Robiul conceded 109 runs in 29 wicketless overs.
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