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Page last updated at 11:01 GMT, Saturday, 3 January 2009

Dilshan knock rescues Sri Lanka

Second Test, Chittagong (day one, close):
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka 371-6
Dates: 3-7 January Start time: 0330 GMT each day
Match scorecard
Tillakaratne Dilshan celebrates his century
Dilshan reached his century off just 93 balls

Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 162 as Sri Lanka recovered from a shaky start to reach 371-6 on day one of the second Test with Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Bangladesh paceman Mashrade Mortaza had taken two early wickets to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 7-2.

But Dilshan added 119 with opener Malinda Warnapura (63) and 173 with Chamara Kapugedera (93 not out).

Dilshan was bowled by left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr just before the close, six short of his highest Test score.

Having hit a century as his side won the first Test, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, playing in his 100th Test, elected to bat after winning the toss.

However, he found himself walking to the crease as early as the fourth over after Mortaza trapped wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene lbw for a second-ball duck, before Kumar Sangakkara played onto his stumps for five.

606: DEBATE
But after labouring to score 11 from 46 balls, the Sri Lanka skipper was caught behind off slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan to leave them 39-3.

Thilan Samaraweera saw Warnapura through to the lunch interval, but was yorked by Shahadat Hossain for 19 just 10 balls after the re-start.

Warnapura was unbeaten on 34 when Dilshan came to the crease, but the latter reached his half century first, off 37 balls - smashing a six and three fours off one Shahadat over.

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful finally ended Warnapura's defiance when he introduced his own occasional leg-spin into the attack - and trapped the opener lbw with his first ball.

Sri Lanka were 75-4 at that stage, but Kapugedera proved an able foil for Dilshan, as the pair smashed the Bangladesh bowlers around the ground.

Kapugedera easily surpassing his previous Test-best score of 63 and will be looking to complete a maiden international century on day two.

When Dilshan departed, Chaminda Vaas helped Kapugedera see Sri Lanka through to the close.

The centurion said afterwards: "It was an opportunity for someone to put his hand up and I am happy to have contributed."

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see also
Sri Lanka defeat spirited Tigers
31 Dec 08 |  Cricket
Mendis to miss Bangladesh Tests
11 Dec 08 |  Sri Lanka


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