Ashraful's nimble catching act

Over the last three days, the sight of the ball reaching the boundary has had everyone at the edge of their seats with the ball regularly stopping short of the rope. When Tamim Iqbal drove Nuwan Kulasekara through mid-on, the ball stopped a few inches short. All Rangana Herath had to do was pick up the ball but, while doing so, his fingers touched the rope. It was sloppy of him, but he was honest enough to admit the mistake to the umpire.

Tamim was not so lucky in the next over, however. He drove a ball straight past Shaminda Eranga, but it was too straight. The ball struck the stumps at the non-striker's end, costing Tamim a few runs. Given the heavy outfield, one couldn't be sure the ball would reach the boundary. Usually. the stumps are the only barrier between a straight drive and four runs but that was forgotten till this shot was played.

The absence of the Decision Review System (DRS) during the series has so far been felt on only a few occasions. On the third morning however, it was sorely missed. Kumar Sangakkara jammed his bat into the ground and the ball had passed quite close. Naturally there was a loud appeal, and the umpire asked the third umpire for assistance. There confusion over whether the ball had bounced and taken the edge, or the sound was that of the bat hitting the ground. The camera angles were unconvincing, but the ball was very close to the bat and had changed direction after going past it. The decision went in favour of Bangladesh this time, but the ratification of universal DRS is growing louder after such incidents.

Mohammad Ashraful was posted at long-on as Bangladesh worked dismiss Sri Lanka in their first innings. Shaminda Eranga lofted Mahmudullah for what would have been his first six of a 36-minute vigil, but Ashraful was there to intervene. He jumped and caught the ball, and turned around, nimbly skirted the boundary rope and just about managed to stay in. It wasn't the greatest catch, but Bangladesh needed a bit of magic on a day when they were made to work very hard.

When Bangladesh edged ahead towards the end of the day, Sri Lanka may wondered if they were letting the match slip away. They did what they have done over the last two years when looking for a saviour with the ball - they turned to Rangana Herath. The visitors were effectively 37 for 2 when Herath began his final spell but, with two terrific balls, Herath eased Sri Lanka's worries. He spun one hard past the advancing Jahurul Islam who was stumped by Dinesh Chandimal, before dismissing Mahmudullah with a cracker that turned past the bat to hit the off-stump.