Bangladesh and skipper Mushfiqur set Test records

Bangladesh amassed their highest total and captain Mushfiqur Rahim chalked up their first Test double century on the fourth day of the opening game against Sri Lanka on Monday.

Resuming on 438 for four, Bangladesh went on to make 638 all out by tea, a first-innings lead of 68.

Sri Lanka then reached the close on 116 for one, with Tillakaratne Dilshan unbeaten on 63 on a lifeless pitch where bat has dominated ball from the start.

It was the second half-century of the match for Dilshan, who was accompanied back to the pavilion by Kumar Sangakkara (49 not out).

The only wicket to fall was that of opener Dimuth Karunaratne for three after he top-edged a hook off Shahadat Hossain to Abul Hasan at fine leg.

With one day left, the game seems destined to end in a tame draw.

Mushfiqur, on 198 at lunch, picked up two singles after the resumption and celebrated his double hundred by punching the air and kissing the turf.

The diminutive 24-year-old batsman was immediately out for 200, trapped lbw by Nuwan Kulasekera off the next delivery.

Mushfiqur's gritty 321-ball knock lasted 438 minutes and included 22 fours and a six.

After Mohammad Ashraful (190) had added one run to his overnight score, Nasir Hossain (100) joined in the run feast and became the sixth centurion in the match.

Nasir's maiden Test hundred came off 151 balls and contained nine fours.

He and Mushfiqur added 106 runs for the sixth wicket before Dilshan had Nasir caught by Sangakkara.

The total by Bangladesh, ninth and last in the Test world rankings, eclipsed the 556 they compiled against West Indies in Dhaka in November.

The second and final Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Colombo starts on Saturday. 

Scorecard

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 570-4 decl

Bangladesh (1st innings): (overnight 438-4)

Jahurul Islam c Chandimal b Eranga 20

Anamul Haque b Mendis 13

Mohammad Ashraful c Mathews b Herath 190

Mominul Haque c Mathews b Kulasekara 55

Mahmudullah st Chandimal b Herath 0

Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Kulasekara 200

Nasir Hossain c Sangakkara b Dilshan 100

Sohag Gazi c Vithanage b Mendis 21

Abul Hasan not out 16

Elias Sunny c Chandimal b Dilshan 0

Shahadat Hossain b Eranga 13

Extras: (b-2, lb-1, nb-7) 10

Total: 638

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-65, 3-170, 4-177, 5-444, 6-550, 7-581, 8-618, 9-618.

Bowling: Kulasekara 27-3-94-2 (nb-1), Eranga 34-4-122-2 (nb-6), Herath 62-11-161-2, Mendis 36-3-152-2, Mathews 9-2-18-0, Dilshan 26-5-75-2, Thirimanne 2-0-13-0.

Sri Lanka (2nd innings):

D. Karunaratne c Abul b Shahadat 3

T. Dilshan not out 63

K. Sangakkara not out 49

Extras: (nb-1) 1

Total: (for 1 wicket) 116

Fall of wickets: 1-17

Bowling: Shahadat 5-1-18-1 (nb-1), Abul 5-0-15-0, Gazi 9-1-37-0, Sunny 5-0-14-0, Mominul 3-0-13-0, Ashraful 1-0-10-0, Mahmudullah 2-0-9-0.

Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images