Mushfiqur Rahim hits ton as Bangladesh edges ahead against Sri Lanka

DHAKA: Mushfiqur Rahim hit a century on Wednesday while becoming the first Bangladesh batter to reach 5,000 Test runs, and his team then reduced Sri Lanka to 39 for 2 in its second innings on Day 4 of the series-opening Test.

Mushfiqur's eighth century, and first since 2020, helped Bangladesh take a 68-run lead after the home side was bowled out for 465. He was finally out for 105 when trying to sweep left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya. Sri Lanka, which was dismissed for 397, still needs 29 runs to erase the deficit.

Tamim Iqbal top-scored for Bangladesh with 133. Liton Das made 88 and opener Mahmudul Hasan added 58.

After the day's play was delayed by 30 minutes because of rain, Bangladesh, which resumed on 318 for 3, moved slowly in the morning session. Mushfiqur was 15 runs short of the 5,000-run milestone when play resumed and he hit the mark, in his 81st Test match, with two runs to fine leg off pace bowler Asitha Fernando.

The Bangladeshi tailenders, however, couldn't offer much resistance, with No. 10 batter Shoriful Islam retiring hurt.

Rajitha registered a career-best 4 for 60 and Asitha had figures of 3 for 72. Agencies

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