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Cricket: Ashraful holds up Sri Lanka victory charge

  • Story Highlights
  • Bangladesh 254 for five wickets chasing 521 to win first Test against Sri Lanka
  • Captain Mohammad Ashraful undefeated on 70 not out at stumps on fourth day
  • Muttiah Muralitharan takes three wickets as Sri Lanka close on victory
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(CNN) -- Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful made his eighth Test half century to frustrate Muttiah Muralitharan and Sri Lanka in the first Test in Mirpu.

Sri Lanka heroes Jayawardene and Muralitharan (right) celebrate a wicket for the spinner.

Sri Lanka heroes Jayawardene and Muralitharan (right) celebrate a wicket for the spinner.

Chasing an improbable 521 to win, Bangladesh battled to 254 for five wickets by the close of the fourth day, with Ashraful undefeated on 70.

Master spinner Muralitharan, the leading wicket taker in Test history, took three wickets for 85 to take his tally to nine for the match.

But he could not dislodge Ashraful, who came to the crease with his side struggling on 124 for three wickets.

He faced 153 balls and hit 11 boundaries during a patient vigil.

Opener Tamim Iqbal made 47, Junaid Siddique 37, Raqibul Hasan 24 and Mehrab Hossain Jr 23 as the Bangladesh top order all made starts.

Ashraful also received fine support from Shakib Al Hasan (34 not out), with the pair having put on an unbroken 74 for the sixth wicket by stumps.

Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene hit a magnificent 166 as Sri Lanka added 114 runs to their overnight score before declaring on 405 for six.

Having lost Thilan Samaraweera to the last ball of the third day on Monday, Jayawardene was joined by Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made 47 runs off just 52 balls.

Jayawardene departed shortly afterwards when he attempted to reverse sweep Hossain Jnr and top-edged a catch to Siddique at first slip.

His knock included 20 fours and a six. Chaminda Vaas added a quickfire 15 not out before the declaration came.

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