There’s a stark contrast between the drawn Galle Test and the ongoing Colombo Test — especially when it comes to the first day’s play. Unlike Galle, where conditions offered something for the bowlers, the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo is known as a batting paradise. Yet, even on this favorable surface, the Tigers failed to deliver with the bat.
Due to a top-order collapse, Bangladesh managed only 220 runs for 8 wickets on the first day of the second Test. After losing early wickets, the team looked set for a recovery — just as they had in Galle with the Shanto-Mushfiqur partnership. But in Colombo, such resistance never truly materialized. The batting lineup fell apart with a series of soft dismissals. Due to rain, only 71 overs were bowled on Day 1, but Sri Lanka will be much the happier side.
Historically, the average first innings score in Colombo is 325, which makes Bangladesh’s 220 look even more underwhelming. One particularly painful similarity with the Galle Test remains — Anamul Haque Bijoy failed yet again, dismissed for a duck in both Tests’ first innings.
By the end of the second session, Bangladesh had gone to tea at 144/5 after Liton Das was dismissed. After the break, they lost 3 more wickets.
Debutant left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha removed Liton Das before tea and later took the prized scalp of Mushfiqur Rahim, who attempted a slog sweep but was caught at midwicket. Mushfiqur, who scored a century in the Galle Test, managed 35 off 75 balls in this innings.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed soon after. After settling in, he was dismissed by Vishwa Fernando for 31 off 42, ending a 37-run stand with Nayeem Hasan. Nayeem himself was bowled by Asitha Fernando after scoring 25.
Among Sri Lanka’s bowlers:
Sonal Dinusha, Vishwa Fernando, and Asitha Fernando claimed two wickets each,
Tharindu Ratnayake and Dhananjaya de Silva took one apiece.
Taijul Islam (9) and Ebadot Hossain (5) will resume batting on Day 2 as Bangladesh hope to cross the 250-run mark at least.
