June 22, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1428

COLOMBO, June 21: Bangladesh's preparations for next week's Test series against Sri Lanka suffered a setback as only 25 overs were bowled due to rain on the second day of their tour match here on Thursday.

Resuming at 183-5, the tourists reached 245-8 in their first innings when rain stopped play in a three-day game against Sri Lanka 'A'. Wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 33 with Shahadat Hossain on 24.

Bangladesh will play three Tests and three One-day Internationals on the tour, with the opening Test starting here on Monday.

The tourists lost three wickets in the morning session, including that of former captain Habibul Bashar who could add only three runs to his overnight score of 60.

Mushfiqur, 18, and tail-ender Shahadat then steadied the innings with a 47-run stand for the ninth wicket.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herat bagged three wickets and seamer Chanaka Welegedara two.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan left-hand opener Upul Tharanga injured a foot and has been ruled out of the first two Tests compounding problems to secure the top order, an official said on Thursday.

“Tharanga was hit on his foot by a Lasith Malinga delivery this morning,” Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary K. Mathivanan said.

He said Tharanga will miss the first two Tests in the series.

Marvan Attapattu, Sri Lanka's most accomplished opening batsman has already pulled out citing personal commitments.

“We will be looking at Thilan Samaraweera, Michael Vandort and Jehan Mubarak to fill in Tharanga's role,” he said.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st innings, overnight 183-5):

Javed Omar run out 34

Shahriar Nafees c Mubarak b Prasad 16

Rajin Saleh lbw b Herath 21

Habibul Bashar lbw b Ganegama 63

Mohammad Ashraful c J’dene b Herath 37

Saqibul Hasan c Udawatte b Herath 0

Khaled Mashud lbw b Welegedera 8

Mushfiqur Rahim not out 33

Mohammad Sharif lbw b Welegedera 0

Shahadat Hossain not out 24

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-2, NB-2) 9

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 104 overs) 245

FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-70, 3-73, 4-148, 5-148, 6-86, 7-198, 8-198.

TO BAT: Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel.

BOWLING (to-date): Ganegama 18-2-52-1; Welegedera 21-5-59-2; Prasad 12-6-17-1; Herath 26-7-63-3 (2nb); Lokuarachchi 14-4-22-0; Perera 13-5-25-0.

SRI LANKA ‘A’: T.T. Samaraweera, M.G. Vandort, M.L. Udawatte, J. Mubarak, S.H.T. Kandamby, M.D.K. Perera, H.A.P.W. Jayawardene, K.S. Lokuarachchi, H.M.R.K.B. Herath, W.C.A. Ganegama, U.W.M.B.C.A. Welegedera, K.T.G.D. Prasad.

NOTE: 12 players per side (11 bat, 11 field).—Agencies