31 Dec 2008

Defiant Ashraful leads Bangladesh resistance

6:44 am on 31 December 2008

Skipper Mohammad Ashraful hit an unbeaten half-century as Bangladesh's cricketers batted defiantly in pursuit of a massive victory target in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Mirpur.

Ashraful's eighth Test half century guided the hosts to 254 for five at the close of the fourth day chasing an unlikely 521 to win the match.