DHAKA, Dec 30: Muttiah Muralitharan took three wickets to strengthen Sri Lanka’s chances of winning the opening Test against Bangladesh here on Tuesday despite a fighting 70 not out by home skipper Mohammad Ashraful.

Bangladesh, shot out for 178 in the first innings, put in a better performance in the second innings when they reached 254-5 at stumps on the penultimate day, chasing an unlikely 521 target.

The highest fourth-innings total to win a Test is 418-7, by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.

Ashraful offered stiff resistance to the Sri Lankan attack, hitting 11 fours in his eighth Test half-century – his first since July 2007. He also completed 2,000 Test runs during his 153-ball knock.

Muralitharan (3-85), who bagged six wickets in the first innings, again did the maximum damage as he did not allow Bangladesh’s middle-order batsmen to settle with his clever variations.

He had Junaid Siddique (37) caught by skipper Mahela Jayawardene at first slip and bowled Raqibul Hasan (24) in his four overs in the afternoon session.

Muralitharan reduced the hosts to 180-5 when he had Mehrab Hossain (23) caught by substitute Chamara Kapugedera at mid-off in the last session.

Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan (34 not out) then denied Sri Lanka further success with a 74-run stand for the unbroken sixth wicket.

Earlier, Sri Lanka, resuming at 291-4, added 114 in the morning session before declaring their second innings closed at 405-6. Jayawardene top-scored with a superb 166, his 24th Test century.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 293 (T.T. Samaraweera 90; Shakib Al Hasan 5-70).

BANGADESH (1st Innings) 178 (M. Muralitharan 6-49).

SRI LANKA (2nd Innings, overnight 291-4 from Sunday):

M.G. Vandort b Mashrafe 6

B.S.M. Warnapura lbw b Mahbubul 8

K.C. Sangakkara c Mushfiqur b Mehrab 67

M. Jayawardene c Junaid b Mehrab 166

T.T. Samaraweera b Mashrafe 62

T.M. Dilshan c Mushfiqur b Shakib 47

H.A.P.W. Jayawardene not out 3

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas not out 15

EXTRAS (B-16, LB-5, W-2, NB-8) 31

TOTAL (for six decl, 108 overs) 405

FALL OF WKTS: 1-16, 2-18, 3-153, 4-291, 5-386, 6-388.

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 21-4-59-2 (2nb, 2w); Mahbubul Alam 17-1-62-1 (2nb); Shakib Al Hasan 40-10-134-1; Shahadat Hossain 14-1-66-0 (4nb); Mehrab Hossain Jr 10-0-37-2; Raqibul Hasan 1-0-2-0’ Mohammad Ashraful 5-0-24-0.

BANGLADESH (2nd Innings):

Tamim Iqbal c P. J’dene b Prasad 47

Imrul Kayes run out 13

Junaid Siddique c M. J’dene b Murali 37

Raqibul Hasan b Murali 24

Mohammad Ashraful not out 70

Mehrab Hossain Jr c sub b Murali 23

Shakib Al Hasan not out 34

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-4) 6

TOTAL (for five wkts, 78 overs) 254

FALL OF WKTS: 1-40, 2-72, 3-124, 4-144, 5-180.

BOWLING (to-date): Vaas 16-5-39-0 (2nb); Prasad 13-2-68-1 (1nb); Muralitharan 28-7-85-3; Herath 21-4-60-0 (1nb).—AFP