COLOMBO, June 20: Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar regained form ahead of next week's Test series against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten half-century in a practice match here on Wednesday.

Habibul, who lost his captaincy after making just 46 in four Test innings against India at home last month, scored 60 not out to help his team reach 183-5 at stumps on the opening day of a three-day match against Sri Lanka ‘A’.

Bangladesh were struggling at 73-3 after electing to bat, but Habibul steadied the innings with a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket with new captain Mohammad Ashraful (37).

Opener Javed Omar (34) and Rajin Saleh (21) were the other main scorers.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who has played 12 Tests for Sri Lanka, was the most impressive bowler with 3-51.

Bangladesh will play three Tests and as many One-day Internationals on their current tour of Sri Lanka. The first Test begins here on June 25.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st innings):

Javed Omar run out 34

Shahriar Nafees c Mubarak b Prasad 16

Rajin Saleh lbw b Herath 21

Habibul Bashar not out 60

Mohammad Ashraful c J’dene b Herath 37

Saqibul Hasan c Udawatte b Herath 0

Khaled Mashud not out 7

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-2, NB-1) 8

TOTAL (for five wkts, 79 overs) 183

FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-70, 3-73, 4-148, 5-148.

TO BAT: Mushfiqur Rahim, Abdur Razzak, Mohammad Sharif, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel.

BOWLING (to-date): Ganegama 11-2-33-0; Welegedera 14-4-36-0; Prasad 16-6-17-1; Herath 20-5-51-3 (1nb); Lokuarachchi 11-4-14-0; Perera 11-3-25-0.

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.

UMPIRES: R.D. Kottahachchi and P.G. Liyanage.

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