Set a 268-run victory target with just one session and 37 overs to go on the fifth and final day, the Tigers finished on 70 for one in 22 overs.The Tigers made a jittery start when opener Anamul Haque was bowled by Shaminda Eranga in the second over.
But Jahurul Islam (41 not out) and Mohammad Ashraful (22 not out) steered Bangladesh clear of any further danger with an unbeaten second wicket stand of 68 runs.
Before Tuesday’s result, Bangladesh had never won or drawn a Test against Sri Lanka in eight previous encounters in the islanders’ backyard. They suffered innings defeats in all those matches.
Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara (105) helped himself to his second century of the match while Tillakaratne Dilshan (126) also joined the long list of centurions before Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews declared their second innings on 335 for four at tea.
Sangakkara completed his 32nd Test hundred shortly before lunch to become the fifth Sri Lankan — after Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha, Aravinda de Silva (twice) and Dilshan — to have scored centuries in both innings of a Test match.
Sangakkara was dismissed in the second ball after lunch when he pulled a short delivery from Mahmudullah to Jaharul Islam at mid-wicket to fall after a 172-ball knock that had 10 fours in it.
Dilshan, who had scored his 16th Test century off 190 balls with nine fours, was caught at deep square leg giving Mahmudullah his second wicket of the innings.
Dilshan and Sangakkara put on 213 runs for the second wicket.
Mahmudullah captured his third victim when he bowled debutant Kithuruwan Vithanage (59) after inducing an inside edge.
Mathews was unbeaten on 38 and Lahiru Thirimanne on two when Sri Lanka declared at the tea break.
The Test saw eight centuries being scored, equalling the world record set in the 2005 South Africa v West Indies Test at Antigua.
For Bangladesh the match will be remembered for three centuries in one innings – skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (200), Ashraful (190) and Nasir Hossain 100.
Mushfiqur’s Herculean effort earned him the man the of the match award.
They also made their highest Test total 638 to better their previous 556 against West Indies in Mirpur in 2012.
The second and final Test starts in Colombo on March 16.
(Source: Agencies)
