Cricket: Historic Bangladesh century fails to save test

COLOMBO - A century on debut by Mohammad Ashraful provided spirited resistance, but Sri Lanka still crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 137 runs in their Asian test championship cricket match.

Ashraful, who turned 17 yesterday, became the youngest cricketer to score a test century. He eclipsed the record of Pakistan's Mushtaq Mohammad, who was 17 years 82 days when he scored 100 against India at Delhi in 1961.

Zimbabwe's Hamilton Masakadza was 17 years 354 days when he became the youngest century-maker on debut, against the West Indies in Harare two months ago.

Ashraful top-scored with a confident 114 before Bangladesh were dismissed for 328 to slip to their second successive innings defeat in the championship.

He combined gritty defence with flashes of arrogance to reach his century in 188 minutes off 167 balls.



Bangladesh lost the opening match of the Asian championship by an innings and 264 runs to Pakistan. The championship is being contested by only three teams because the Indian Government refused to allow their side to play Pakistan in Lahore.

* In Harare, South Africa pressed home their advantage against Zimbabwe on the second day of the first test, reaching 600 for three declared, then having the hosts 143 for four at stumps.

Andy Flower, Zimbabwe's most accomplished batsman, was unbeaten on 54. Dion Ebrahim made 71.

A marathon innings by South African opener Gary Kirsten ended at 220, including 33 fours and a six. He shared a second-wicket partnership of 199 with Jacques Kallis.

Kallis and Neil McKenzie added 127 for the third wicket before McKenzie was out for 52. Kallis finished on 157 not out. It was his eighth test century.