Brian Thomas reporting
It was an exhibition on how to handle spin by Bangladesh batters, namely Najmul Shanto, who remained unbeaten on 136 , and Mushfiqur Rahim who recorded his 3rd century against Sri Lanka, unbeaten on 106 , as the Tigers end day 1 on 292 for 3 wickets after opting to bat first on a placid pitch at Galle today.
Sri Lanka definitely is on the back foot , their celebration ended midway in the first session, with Tharindu Ratnayaka scalping his 2nd wicket on debut , when he had Monimul Haq caught by Dhananjaya de Silva at first slip for 29 with the visitors on 45 for 3 wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim , the former captain, walks in and joins the current Captain Najmul Shanto, and the pair gained respectability by taking lunch on 90 for 3 wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Shanto played the Sri Lankan spinners on the Galle pitch with composure. Mushfiqur displayed his back foot ability off working the ball into gaps , off Prabath Jayasuriya and Tharindu Ratnayaka, whilst Shanto used his nimble foot work by getting to the pitch of the ball , and playing through the line whilst exibiting inside out strokes with great precision.
The hall mark of the Bangladesh left hand right hand combination was covering the line of the delivery and watching the limited grip on the pitch with extreme proficiency.
Honestly, Sri Lankan spinners looked hapless as they bowled to both sides of the wickets whilst the Bangladesh batters picked the dangerous Jayasuriya off their pads with exquisite wrist work.
Sri Lanka missed Lahiru Kumara to a great extent. He dropped out with a hamstring injury . Sri Lankan seam cordon of Asitha Fernando and Milan Ratnayaka lacked venom in terms of pace. Lahiru Kumara, who bowls at 140 kmp, could have rushed the batters, especially with short pitch deliveries when the ball was relatively new.
Bangladesh looks set for a total of around 450 with plenty of batting to come. If they play it smart , they can bat Sri Lanka out of the game.
Mushfiqur Rahim, before this tour in 13 innings, struggled with the bat , his highest score being 40 against Zimbabwe.
Today is not only a redemption for himself but also for his team because remember he walked in with the tigers in trouble on 45 for 3.
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Bangladesh Dominate Day 1 in Galle Thanks to Centurions Shanto and Mushfiqur
By Leonard Ratnayaka, reporting from the U.K.
Galle, Sri Lanka — Bangladesh put on a commanding display of spin batting on Day 1 of the first Test in Galle, ending the day at a strong 292 for 3, led by unbeaten centuries from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (136*) and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim (106*).
Opting to bat first on a placid surface, Bangladesh initially stumbled to 45 for 3 before the pair dug in and stitched together a magnificent unbeaten partnership. It was a masterclass in composure and technique, particularly in handling spin, as Sri Lanka’s bowlers toiled under the blazing Galle sun.
Sri Lanka had early success, especially debutant Tharindu Ratnayaka, who claimed his second wicket when he had Monimul Haque caught at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva for 29. That brought Mushfiqur Rahim to the crease, joining captain Shanto at a precarious juncture.
From there, the duo turned the tide. By lunch, they had stabilized the innings at 90 for 3, and what followed was an exhibition of balance, patience, and smart strokeplay.
Mushfiqur, in particular, looked a man reborn. Having struggled with the bat in his last 13 innings — his highest score being just 40 — he showcased his trademark back-foot play, maneuvering the ball expertly into the gaps off both Ratnayaka and Jayasuriya. Shanto, at the other end, used his feet impressively, getting to the pitch and playing with precision through the line, including a flurry of elegant inside-out strokes.
The hallmark of their 200-plus stand was their calculated approach — covering the line, reading the limited turn, and exploiting gaps with finesse. The left-right combination unsettled the Sri Lankan bowlers, who began to lose their lines, bowling on both sides of the wicket. Prabath Jayasuriya, usually a threat at home, was picked off with clever wristwork, while Tharindu Ratnayaka faded after his early burst.
Sri Lanka sorely missed the firepower of Lahiru Kumara, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The pace attack of Asitha Fernando and Milan Ratnayaka lacked the menace required to trouble the batters on a flat pitch. Kumara, with his ability to bowl in excess of 140 km/h, might have made a difference early on with short-pitched aggression.
Bangladesh now look well-positioned for a first-innings total of 450 or more, with batting still to come. If they continue in the same vein, they could bat Sri Lanka out of the contest.
For Mushfiqur Rahim, today’s century was not just a personal redemption but also a crucial innings for his team, arriving as he did with the Tigers in trouble at 45 for 3. As Day 2 looms, Sri Lanka must regroup quickly, or risk falling behind irreparably.
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