A spirited late fightback by Sri Lanka’s pacers halted Bangladesh’s charge on a rain-interrupted second day of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday. From a position of dominance at tea, the visitors slipped to 484/9 by stumps, losing five wickets for just 61 runs after a two-hour rain delay breathed life into the surface.
Bangladesh resumed on their overnight 292/3, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto on 136 and Mushfiqur Rahim on 67. But the hosts struck early as Shanto, adding only 12 runs, was dismissed by Asitha Fernando, chipping a low delivery to Angelo Mathews at mid-off. The second-wicket stand with Mushfiqur ended at a mammoth 264, with the score at 309/4 in the 97th over.
Mushfiqur then built another substantial partnership — this time 149 runs — with Litton Das, steering Bangladesh to 383/4 at lunch and 423/4 at tea. Rahim brought up a fluent 150 and looked on course for a double-century, while Litton played a stylish supporting hand, especially in a brisk post-lunch passage.
However, the match turned sharply after the rain break. The moisture helped seamers extract just enough movement, and Sri Lanka’s bowlers made the most of the improved conditions.
Mushfiqur was the first to fall post-interruption, trapped lbw by Asitha Fernando for 163. He reviewed the decision, but the ball-tracker showed it would have hit middle stump. In the very next over, Litton Das (90) gloved a mistimed reverse sweep to keeper Kusal Mendis, ending his fine knock with the score still on 458.
From then on, it was Milan Rathnayake’s time to shine. Previously wicketless, he ran through the lower order with a devastating spell. Jaker Ali was castled by a sharp inswinger, Nayeem Hasan edged behind, and Taijul Islam was bowled through the gate. Rathnayake finished the day with career-best figures of 3 for 38 from 22.4 overs, while Asitha Fernando added 3 for 80, having made early and late breakthroughs.
Before the rain, Sri Lanka’s fielding had let them down — with missed run-outs and dropped chances off both Mushfiqur and Litton. But the late burst gave the hosts a much-needed lift and a fighting chance heading into Day 3.
With the pitch beginning to show variable bounce and turn, Sri Lanka will hope to polish off the final wicket quickly and begin their reply on a stronger note.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 484/9 in 151 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 163, Najmul Hossain Shanto 148, Litton Das 90; Milan Rathnayake 3-38, Asitha Fernando 3-80) vs Sri Lanka
