COLOMBO, Sept 9: Bangladeshi middle-order batsmen Muhammad Ashraful and Aftab Ahmed geared up for the first Test against Sri Lanka with gutsy half-centuries in a drawn practice match on Friday. Ashraful scored 87 and Ahmed 67 as Bangladesh made 273 for six wickets in their second innings on the third and final day of the match against a Sri Lanka Cricket Development team after conceding a lead of 217.

Cricket minnows Bangladesh clash with Sri Lanka in the first match of a two-Test series on Monday.

Bangladesh were facing defeat at 92 for four wickets in the morning session against a second-string side before Ashraful and Ahmed came to their team’s rescue with a defiant 123-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Ashraful struck one six and 11 fours in his 150-ball knock, while Ahmed hit one six and seven fours.

Tushar Imran (23 not out) and skipper Khaled Mashud (14 not out) then added 58 for the unfinished seventh wicket.

Sri Lanka have already clinched a one-day series against the tourists.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh strike bowler Mashrafe Mortaza has been ruled out of a two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to a back injury, cricket officials said here on Friday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesperson Mohsena Hassan said the tour management committee had decided to send Mortaza home as the fast bowler would take up to three months to recover.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 195 (J. Omar 81, T. Baisya 54, G. Rupasinghe 3-31; G. Wijekoon 3-35) and 273-6 (M. Ashraful 87, A. Ahmed 67; G. Wijekoon 2-24) v Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI 412 (J. Mendis 95, G. de Silva 74, S. Kalavithigoda 59, T. Samaraweera 48, Syed Rasel 4-85)

First Test: At Colombo on Monday.

—AFP