When Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto came together at the crease, Bangladesh were reeling at 45 for 3. But by the end of the day, the team had recovered remarkably to post 292 for 3. Captain Najmul Hossain remained unbeaten on 136, while former captain Mushfiqur Rahim was not out on 105. This marked Shanto’s sixth Test century and Mushfiq’s 12th in the format.
Heading into the match under intense criticism and on the back of a losing streak, Bangladesh had a shaky start after electing to bat first. The top order collapsed early, losing three wickets for just 45 runs. At that point, fans feared yet another disappointing defeat on Sri Lankan soil.
However, Mushfiqur and Shanto showed resilience and determination, signaling a strong fightback. They not only stabilized the innings but also built an unbroken double-century partnership that lifted Bangladesh from the brink of disaster. Both batters reached their respective centuries and ensured that no further wickets fell throughout the remainder of the day.
On Day 1 of the Galle Test (June 17), Bangladesh batted through the full quota of 90 overs. Despite a dismal first hour where they lost three wickets, the rest of the day belonged entirely to the Tigers, thanks to the unbeaten stand between Shanto and Mushfiqur.
Brief Score
Bangladesh 1st innings: 292/3 in 90 overs
(Shadman 14, Anamul 0, Mominul 29, Najmul 136, Mushfiqur 105; Tharindu 2/124, Asitha 1/51)
End of Day 1
