Sri Lanka’s Milan Rathnayake celebrates the wicket of Bangladesh’s Nayeem Hasan during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, on June 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
Bangladesh continued its dominance over Sri Lanka on the second day of the first Test on Wednesday, finishing at a commanding 484 for nine — despite a few late breakthroughs by the hosts.
The Tigers resumed on 292 for three overnight and turned the screws on a batting-friendly wicket, with Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto extending their record-breaking partnership.
The 264-run partnership finally ended when Shanto fell for 148, deceived in the air as he attempted to drive one.
Shanto’s fluent innings was peppered with 15 boundaries and a six.
Mushfiqur kept going with wicketkeeper Litton Das before finally falling for 163, a marathon knock that spanned nearly nine hours and 350 balls.
Litton piled on further misery for Sri Lanka with a brisk 90 off 123 deliveries, cashing in on tired bowlers and some loose fielding.
He was particularly severe on the spinners, using his feet to good effect to lift the ball cleanly over the in-field.
Anxious moments
He survived some anxious moments.
Pathum Nissanka grassed a sitter at short mid-wicket when he had just 14 to his name.
Moments earlier, he had survived a run-out stemming from a mix-up.
He eventually perished attempting a reverse sweep off debutant Tharindu Ratnayake, gloving it to Kusal Mendis behind the stumps.
With rain interrupting play shortly after lunch, only 61 overs could be bowled on day two.
A persistent drizzle forced an early tea and fading light ended proceedings prematurely.
Play will resume fifteen minutes early on Thursday to compensate for the lost time.
The scores: Bangladesh 484/9 in 151 overs (Mushfiqur 163, Shanto 148, Litton 90; Asitha 3/80, Milan 3/38, Tharindu 3/196) vs Sri Lanka.
Published – June 19, 2025 03:40 am IST
