Can Sri Lanka Stage a Comeback After Rahim and Litton's Heroics?

Galle, June 18 (NationPress) What started as a display of Bangladesh's batting strength on Day 2 at Galle took a dramatic turn in the final session as Sri Lanka fought back fiercely, taking several wickets after a rain interruption. At the end of the day, Bangladesh stood at 484 for 9 wickets — a considerable score, but one that could have been even more formidable given their earlier dominance.

The day was predominantly marked by three of Bangladesh's veteran players — Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das — who together scored 401 runs and formed two substantial partnerships: 264 runs between Shanto and Mushfiqur, and 149 runs between Mushfiqur and Litton. By tea time, Bangladesh appeared poised for a declaration score, possibly around 600, with Mushfiqur edging closer to a double-century.

However, the match shifted dramatically following a two-hour rain break in the late afternoon. With moisture returning to the pitch, it provided just enough assistance for Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly seamer Milan Rathnayake, who capitalized on the conditions. After struggling initially, the pacer found his rhythm, ending the day with impressive figures of 3 for 38 in 22.4 overs.

Rathnayake's decisive spell included three pivotal wickets — he bowled out Jaker Ali with a precise inswinger, forced an edge from Nayeem Hasan, and then clean bowled Taijul Islam with a delivery that swung back in. His breakthroughs, complemented by Asitha Fernando's wickets at either end of the day, ignited a collapse in which Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 61 runs in the final 20.4 overs.

Earlier, Asitha had dismissed Shanto for 148, ending the massive second-wicket partnership, and later trapped Mushfiqur lbw for 163 — a decision upheld by a DRS review.

Debutant spinner Tharindu Rathnayake, who faced attacks throughout the innings, also joined the wicket-takers by dismissing a well-set Litton Das for 90 with a disciplined leg-stump line that forced a mistimed reverse sweep.

Until the rain interruption, Bangladesh dominated the game. Sri Lanka's fielding faltered too — they missed two run-out chances and let slip opportunities from both Mushfiqur and Litton. The latter had been particularly impressive, playing elegant shots and confidently attacking the spinners, especially during a brisk post-lunch session.

With the pitch still relatively mild but showing signs of variable bounce and turn as the day wore on, Day 3 is set to be pivotal. Sri Lanka will aim to dismiss the final Bangladesh wicket swiftly and commence their innings with renewed confidence after a morale-boosting evening session.

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) against Sri Lanka