Bangladesh batsmen delay defeat!

Saleh's defence was tight on both front and back foot

Bangladesh's batsmen produced some overdue resistance to stave off the prospect of a three-day defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

They reached 233-5 at the close in Colombo after defiant half centuries from Javed Omar and Rajin Saleh.

But they need another 255 to avoid an innings defeat, with Sri Lanka still on course for a 1-0 lead in the series.

Muttiah Muralitharan was their most successful bowler, taking 2-82 to go with his five first innings wickets.

The morning session belonged to Bangladesh who added 107 runs to their overnight score of 3-0 for the loss of Shahriar Nafees.

He and Omar took the score to 86, their best opening partnership in Tests against Sri Lanka, before Nafees drove a return catch to Muralitharan after making 38.

Omar's half century followed off 104 balls but he did not last long following the lunch interval as an inswinging yorker from pace bowler Lasith Malinga trapped him lbw to end a astylish innings which included 10 boundaries.

The onus was then on Saleh and former captain Habibul Bashar to continue the fight but they were only together for nine overs before Bashar drove at a ball from Vaas, one of four centurions during Sri Lanka's massive 577-6 declared, and was caught behind for 17.

New skipper Mohammad Ashraful proved far tougher to dislodge, however, and he helped Saleh added 67 for the fourth wicket either side of tea.

Saleh batted for almost four hours in total for his 51, but two balls after reaching his half century he tried to force a ball from Tillakaratne Dilshan and edged to Mahela Jayawardene at slip.

Bangladesh were desperate to avoid further damage but in the penultimate over of play, Ashraful threw away his wicket on 37 by lofting Muralitharan to long-on.