Sri Lanka clawed their way back into the Test after Bangladesh dominated most of the first two days, thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim’s masterful 163 and Litton Das’ 90. But a rain break and late-day collapse brought the hosts back into the contest, ending Day 2 with Bangladesh at 484 for 9.
Bangladesh 484 for 9 (Mushfiqur 163, Shanto 148, Litton 90, Rathnayake 3-38, Asitha 3-30) vs Sri Lanka
Bangladesh were in full control for most of the second day in Galle as Mushfiqur Rahim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Litton Das put on two massive partnerships worth 264 and 149 runs respectively. Together, the trio scored a remarkable 401 runs. However, the narrative shifted dramatically after a two-hour rain delay late in the day.
The final session brought a Sri Lankan resurgence, with five wickets tumbling for just 61 runs across 20.4 overs. Milan Rathnayake, who had been toiling all day with little to show, became the catalyst post-rain. The added surface moisture gave him the edge he needed, resulting in figures of 3 for 38 from 22.4 overs. He removed Jaker Ali with an inswinger, then had Nayeem Hasan nick one behind before bowling Taijul Islam with a delivery angled in.
Asitha Fernando was just as impactful. He broke the monumental Shanto-Mushfiqur stand by dismissing Shanto early in the morning, and then returned to trap Mushfiqur leg-before with a ball that jagged in late. Though it was umpire’s call, the review upheld the decision.
Debutant Tharindu Rathnayake kept Litton in check with persistent leg-stump lines. Litton eventually fell attempting a reverse sweep, only to see Kusal Mendis make a sharp grab.
This late fightback flipped the mood entirely. For most of the day, it looked like Bangladesh were heading toward a score well beyond 550. Missed chances by Sri Lanka earlier in the day had added to that impression. There were a couple of botched run-out opportunities and a few half-chances that went begging.
After lunch, Milan returned from a minor muscle issue and almost had Mushfiqur, beating him between bat and pad. The appeal was turned down, and on review, the decision remained umpire’s call. Sri Lankan players looked visibly frustrated.
However, the rain break came soon after, and the shift in conditions brought new life to the hosts. Litton tried to push the scoring rate, especially against Prabath Jayasuriya, with some elegant late cuts. But Mushfiqur, perhaps fatigued and tied down, eventually fell.
Bangladesh may later reflect on whether they should have accelerated more aggressively when conditions were in their favor. For much of the day, they were content to score at around three an over. In contrast, Australia had previously maintained a four-run rate in similar Galle conditions.
Litton showed more attacking intent, especially before lunch when Bangladesh scored at five an over, but those spurts were brief. While steady scoring ensured stability, it also allowed Sri Lanka to stay in the hunt without being pressured.
Outside the top three, Bangladesh’s remaining batters contributed just 68 runs, underlining how vital the trio’s contributions were.
