Bangladesh stamped their authority on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, ending the day at a powerful 484 for nine, thanks to a masterclass from Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Resuming the day at 292 for three, the Tigers made the most of the batting-friendly conditions, piling on the runs and wearing down the Sri Lankan bowlers. The highlight of the innings was a record 264-run partnership between Shanto and Mushfiqur, a stand that not only lifted Bangladesh but also demoralized the hosts.
Shanto continued his sublime form, crafting a brilliant 148 that featured 15 boundaries and a six. His innings ended when he misjudged a flighted delivery while attempting a drive. Despite the dismissal, the damage was done.
Mushfiqur, known for his patience and technique, played one of the most disciplined innings of his career. His 163-run knock spanned nearly nine hours and came off 350 deliveries, showcasing stamina, composure, and control.
After Shanto’s dismissal, Liton Das picked up the tempo. He played a brisk and attacking innings, scoring 90 off 123 balls. His confident footwork against the spinners kept the scoreboard ticking. However, he was lucky early on — a dropped catch at 14 and a near run-out scare could have cut his innings short. Eventually, he fell to debutant Tharindu Ratnayake while attempting a reverse sweep.
Despite some success late in the day — Sri Lanka picked up five wickets after tea — the hosts were left chasing shadows for most of the innings. Sri Lankan pacer Milan Rathnayake admitted the wicket was unusually flat for Galle, offering little to the bowlers.
“It was one of the flattest wickets we’ve seen here,” Rathnayake said. “But I thought we pulled things back well after tea. It wasn’t easy, but we stayed calm and managed some key breakthroughs.”
Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin praised the team’s application and highlighted Mushfiqur’s innings as a turning point.
“He hadn’t scored big in a while, but we knew it was coming. The entire batting lineup showed great character today. With close to 500 on the board, we now look to our bowlers to apply pressure,” he said.
Rain hampered play during the afternoon session. Only 61 overs were bowled on day two due to a persistent drizzle that forced an early tea. Poor light eventually ended the day prematurely. Officials confirmed play will start 15 minutes earlier on Thursday to make up for the lost time.
With a solid total on the board, Bangladesh will now shift focus to their bowlers. If the weather permits and the pitch offers any assistance, day three could tilt the match further in their favor or offer Sri Lanka a chance to fight back.
