Did Shanto and Mushfiqur's Hundreds Turn the Tide for Bangladesh in Galle?

Galle, June 17 (NationPress) What started as a promising morning for Sri Lanka swiftly transformed into a triumphant day for Bangladesh in Galle, thanks to an astonishing, unbeaten 247-run partnership by Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim, leading the visitors to a remarkable score of 292/3 at stumps on Day 1 at the Galle International Stadium.

After a shaky beginning where Bangladesh saw three wickets fall within the first 15 overs, the seasoned pair of Shanto (136*) and Mushfiqur (105*) stabilized the innings, propelling the team to a commanding position at the close of play.

The decision to bat first was pivotal for Bangladesh on a Galle pitch that offered little assistance to bowlers. Despite a rough start — losing Shadman Islam (14), Anamul Haque (0), and Mominul Haque for a mere 29 runs — captain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur combined resilience with aggression, reclaiming control and dominating the remainder of the day.

The morning kicked off with Sri Lanka riding high on emotions and early successes. It began with a warm tribute for retiring legend Angelo Mathews, followed swiftly by Asitha Fernando's dismissal of Anamul Haque with a well-placed delivery.

Debutant ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake then struck twice in quick succession, removing Shadman and Mominul, igniting celebrations within the Sri Lankan camp.

However, Shanto's response was quick and decisive. On only his sixth delivery, he danced down the wicket and lofted Tharindu over his head — a clear statement of intent and a pivotal moment in the match. From that point, he targeted the debutant, scoring 10 of his 15 boundaries (including one six) off him, disrupting the spinner's rhythm.

Mushfiqur, steady and composed, anchored the innings from the other end. His century, the 12th of his Test career and fourth against Sri Lanka, showcased his enduring skill and cricketing intelligence. As the day progressed, both batsmen rotated the strike effortlessly and capitalized on loose deliveries, with their scoring rate consistently around 3.5 runs per over, peaking at nearly 4 runs per over in the final session.

Despite the early wickets, Sri Lanka's bowling attack struggled to sustain pressure. Milan Rathnayake bowled economically, returning 0/19 from 12 overs, yet lacked support from the other end. Prabath Jayasuriya’s delayed return after lunch allowed the Bangladeshi duo to settle further, and over-bowling the debutant Tharindu — who finished with 2/124 — proved detrimental as the partnership flourished.

At stumps, Bangladesh found themselves in a strong position, with their senior duo well-set and ample batting still to come. With the pitch offering minimal turn and bounce, the visitors appeared poised to bat for a long time, placing Sri Lanka under significant pressure heading into Day 2.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 292/3 in 90 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 136 not out, Mushfiqur Rahim 105) against Sri Lanka.