Century by Ashraful in vain

COLOMBO, SEPT. 8. Sri Lanka crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 137 runs in the Asian Test championship match on Saturday, but only after the visitor put up a spirited resistance thanks to a century by debutant Mohammad Ashraful.

The 17-year-old Ashraful top-scored with a confident 114 before Bangladesh was finally bowled out for 328 to slip to its second successive innings defeat in the championship.

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took five for 98 to finish with match figures of 10 for 111.

Ashraful shared in a defiant fifth-wicket stand of 127 with Aminul Islam after Bangladesh began the third day's play on 100 for four.

The pair batted virtually right through the morning session before Islam was removed for a workmanlike 56. At interval, Bangladesh still required 258 to make Sri Lanka bat a second time. Skipper Naimur Rahman, who made 48, then shared with Ashraful in a sixth-wicket stand of 96 until Sri Lanka took the second new ball.

Ashraful was the more composed of the two batsmen, combining gritty defence with flashes of arrogance to reach his century in 188 minutes off 167 balls.Ashraful finally departed with the score on 308, hitting a return catch off Perera's slower ball to end a stay at the crease of more than four hours, 212 balls and 16 boundaries.

- Reuters

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