Bangladesh dominated Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, posting a formidable 484/9 in their first innings. Mushfiqur Rahim's masterful 163 and Najmul Hossain Shanto's elegant 148 were the highlights, as the duo broke records and put the hosts under immense pressure.
Resuming at 292/3 overnight, Shanto and Mushfiqur continued their record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership. They added 264 runs, the highest fourth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in Tests against Sri Lanka, displaying resilience and excellent shot selection. Shanto, who was unbeaten on 136 at the end of Day 1, reached 148 before being dismissed, ending his fluent innings that included 15 boundaries and a six.
Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran batter, continued to anchor the innings, displaying a granite-like defense and occasional attacking flourish. He reached his 12th Test century, ending a lean patch and silencing his critics. The 38-year-old demonstrated his fondness for the Galle International Stadium, where he had previously scored a double century in 2013. His innings of 163 spanned nearly nine hours and 350 balls, proving his endurance and determination.
After Shanto's dismissal, Mushfiqur forged another valuable partnership, this time with Litton Das. The pair added 149 runs, with Litton contributing a brisk 90 off 123 deliveries. Litton was severe on the spinners, using his feet to good effect. However, he was unlucky to miss out on a century, falling to a reverse sweep off debutant Tharindu Ratnayake.
Mushfiqur's impressive innings saw him join an elite list of overseas players with two 150-plus scores in Tests in Sri Lanka, alongside legends like Brian Lara, Stephen Fleming, Younis Khan, Joe Root and Abdullah Shafique. The 264-run partnership between Shanto and Mushfiqur was also the sixth-highest Test partnership for Bangladesh and the third-highest for a visiting pair on Sri Lankan soil.
Towards the end of the day, Sri Lanka fought back with some late wickets. Milan Rathnayake took three wickets, but Bangladesh's lower order managed to see off the remaining overs, finishing the day at 484/9. Rain interrupted play after lunch, limiting the number of overs bowled to 61.
Bangladesh's strong performance on Day 2 has put them in a commanding position in the first Test. The pitch is expected to deteriorate, making it crucial for Bangladesh to post a big first-innings total. Their bowlers will look to exploit the conditions and put Sri Lanka under pressure.
