The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended in a draw on Thursday after Niroshan Dickwella and Dinesh Chandimal showcased a disciplined batting performance on the final day.

The hosts, however, were in a strong position during the penultimate session of the game when they reduced the visitors to 161-6 after left-arm spinner duo Taijul Islam (4-82) and Shakib Al Hasan (1-58) shared five wickets between them.

Earlier, resuming an overnight score of 39-2, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis frustrated Bangladeshi bowlers in the opening hour of the day as they scored runs at a good pace.

Taijul then bowled Mendis for 48 and then removed first-innings centurion Angelo Mathews for a duck in quick succession.

Karunaratne made 52 off 138 balls before he gave a catch to his counterpart Mominul Haque at midwicket off Taijul before Shakib dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva (33) to leave the visitors struggling in the match.

Sri Lanka were leading Bangladesh by only 93 runs at that time and Bangladesh were very much in the driving seat to win the contest.

However, Dickwella and Chandimal had other ideas as they put up a vital stand and remained not out till the end of the match as the two teams settled on a draw 45 minutes before the scheduled close of play.

Hosts Bangladesh earlier made 465 runs in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 397 after Tamim Iqbal (133) and Mushfiqur Rahim (105) played starring roles.

Player-of-the-match Mathews hit 199 in Sri Lanka’s first innings while Nayeem Hasan claimed 6-105 for Bangladesh.

The series-concluding second Test will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur from Monday.