Sri Lanka staged a late comeback on the second day of the Galle Test, as Milan Rathnayake sparked a collapse by dismissing Zakir Ali, Taijul Islam, and Nayeem Hasan in quick succession. Nayeem edged a delivery outside the off stump to the wicketkeeper, leaving Bangladesh nine down.
At stumps on day two, Bangladesh stood at 484 for 9 after 151 overs, with Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana unbeaten at the crease.
Earlier, just before rain interrupted play, Mushfiqur Rahim survived a close leg-before appeal on umpire’s call while batting on 159. However, after the rain break, he was trapped lbw on the very same umpire’s call and had to depart for 163. Soon after, Liton Das, who was looking strong and heading towards a century, was also dismissed for 90.
Due to the rain delay, 31.4 overs were scheduled to be played in the final session, but only 20.4 overs were possible before bad light ended play. At the rain break, Bangladesh was well-placed at 423 for 4, but Sri Lanka capitalized in the final session by taking five wickets.
Play on the third day is set to begin 15 minutes earlier than usual, at 10:15 AM Bangladesh time.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who has three Test double centuries to his name, was on track for a fourth but was dismissed for 163 shortly after play resumed following the rain. His patient innings spanned 350 balls and included nine boundaries. Mushfiqur shared a crucial 149-run partnership with Liton Das.
Liton Das played with attacking intent and seemed poised for his fifth Test hundred but was dismissed for 90. He faced 123 balls, hitting 11 fours and one six. While Mushfiqur held one end solidly, Liton kept the scoreboard ticking, but he narrowly missed out on a century.
Mushfiqur crossed the 150-run mark for the seventh time in his Test career, and the third time against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh’s total passed the 400-run milestone with a boundary from Liton. Soon after, Liton also completed his 18th Test fifty.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell short of the 150-run milestone despite a promising start to the day. He was dismissed for 148 after facing 279 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and one six. Shanto had resumed the day on 136 not out.
After a shaky start that saw Bangladesh lose three wickets for just 45 runs in the morning session of day one, Shanto and Mushfiqur steadied the innings. Both batters scored centuries and built an unbeaten 247-run partnership, taking Bangladesh to a commanding 292 for 3 by stumps on the first day. Shanto resumed on day two with 136 and Mushfiqur with 105.
Brief Score
Bangladesh 1st Innings: 484/9 in 151 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 163, Najmul Hossain Shanto 148, Liton Das 90; Milan Rathnayake 3/38, Asitha Fernando 3/90, Tharindu Ratnayake 3/196).
