Bangladesh won by 4 wkts
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Tamim Iqbal
Batter
Bowler
Test cricket is a process in itself, it leaves little room for flukes and thus a win in the format is the real measure of the growth a side has achieved. 100 Tests it took Bangladesh to prove that they have reached the next level, where they can travel to a major Test playing nation and play to win. It's great that they are getting to play more competitive cricket. At this moment, this might seem just another Test win. But few years down the line and it will be seen as the cornerstone that led to the building of a different culture. A culture that nurtures real cricket - Test Cricket! On that note, this is Abhishek Chaudhary bidding goodbye on behalf of Krishna and Praveen. Enjoy your Sunday!
Both captains share the winner's cheque and the trophy. Smiles all around. A well fought series in the end.
Herath: "Disappointed at the end, but I must congratulate Bangladesh on their win in the 100th Test. We could not capitalize as a batting unit. Actually, we have to improve in every single area. But this is not the time to talk. We need to have a chat with the coaching staff. I don't know how long I can go, but I can bowl a bit for sure."
Rahim: "Boys played well. Congratulations to coaching staff. Mustafizur and Shakib bowled well. The loss in the previous match was frustrating. Most important thing was that the boys executed their skills in the pressure conditions. Probably we could not turn up in the last game. But if we can do these kind of performance (like today), we will have a great future."
Shakib Al Hasan: "It was very important. We are doing well at home, so it was important to do well overseas. We had a very good chat after the last Test. We wanted to do well and everyone put their hands up. I don't know what was going on. But I wanted to play shots. As I said in the press conference, the way Chandimal batted, it gave me the confidence that if you apply yourself, you can get runs."
Shakib Al Hasan is the Man of the Series
Tamim Iqbal (Man of the Match): "This win started when we lost the match in Galle. All the players got together and we had a long chat on what we needed to do. The way the bowlers bowled in the first innings, the way the fielders were cheering, that changed the thing. When you are this kind of a total, you need to be a little aggressive as you don't know when you get an unplayable ball. The coach is always there for us. He backs us, he asks us to play shots if we want to play shots."
Stay tuned for the presentations. By the way, we forgot to mention... Bangladesh have levelled the series 1-1
Shakib: It's a great feeling to win a Test match, especially in Sri Lanka. We know how tough they are. The way we are improving, we will win some games. We are having good times at home. Now we need to win outside. We knew we were going to chase down anything around 200 as the wicket was not that bad. Obviously we wanted to restrict them below 150 but the last two batsmen batted really well.
Tamim: We had a chat in the morning and we decided that we had to bat long. All in all, it is a great win. The way he (Mosaddek Hossain Saikat) batted in the first innings, it was special, took the pressure away in the second innings by hitting a couple of fours when we needed 20 something.
But on the final day when Sri Lanka got a lead of 190, and Herath chipped in with two wickets in two balls, Bangladeshi fans' biggest fears came true - the age-old panic. They had been here in the past. They have a reputation of celebrating early and then ruing what they could have done better. After all, at the highest level, it is more about how you handle things at the mental level than anything else. Skills often take the backseat! Tamim Iqbal had the skill but a brain fade led to recklessness. Sabbir was the victim of a brilliant review. But one of the most decorated batting pairs from Bangladesh - Shakib and Rahim - hung in for a while before Mosaddek Hossain Saikat joined the latter and it became clear that the fate was not going to be cruel today!
The occasion was huge - 100th Test! There were felicitations, stories and everything else in the lead up to the action. But the focus remained on cricket. Had to. Eventually it's always about the match and what a team does in the middle. Bangladesh did not get overawed - neither by the occasion nor the opposition. The pendulum swung, like it always does in the longest format. Hours won, sessions won. Deuce, advantage.. deuce again. The match hung in balance. Everything that we want to see from Test cricket, it offered!
Last year Bangladesh registered their biggest Test win, against England at home in conditions that were rolled out for them. Then they traveled to New Zealand and almost upset the apple cart. It signaled towards greater things; one of the most emotional cricket sides were all set to take the big step - to travel and win a Test match in a foreign land. And even though the conditions in Sri Lanka were not quite alien to the Bangladeshis, they were tough. It takes some effort to travel to Sri Lanka and win. And the tourists put the required effort!
The Bangladeshi players barge into the centre. Hug the duo out there. What a moment in their cricket history. Amazing scenes out there
Herath to Mehedi Hasan, 2 runs, takes it on the full and sweeps past the man at short fine leg. It's all over. Bangladesh win by 4 wickets.
Herath to Mehedi Hasan, no run, right on the stumps. Mehedi Hasan dead-bats into the pitch
Herath to Mehedi Hasan, no run, fired quick and full on off. Mehedi Hasan defends with ease
Mehedi Hasan, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Herath to Mosaddek, out Caught by Dickwella!! Turn and bounce and Mosaddek wants to guide it. Does not control and gloves into the hands of the keeper. But it's a little too late for Sri Lanka. Bangladesh need just two to win. Mosaddek c Dickwella b Herath 13(28) [4s-2]
Herath to Mosaddek, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
Herath to Mosaddek, no run, tossed up ball. Mosaddek blocks off the front foot