Mushfiqur Rahim crafted a magnificent 163 on Wednesday as Bangladesh posted a formidable 484 for nine on a rain-interrupted second day of the opening Test against Sri Lanka.
Spending over eight hours at the crease and facing 350 balls, Mushfiqur delivered a composed and resilient innings, mixing solid defense with moments of flair. His effort put Bangladesh in control, despite a late batting collapse in the final session where the team lost five wickets for just 26 runs, offering Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.
Bangladesh, who have only beaten Sri Lanka once in their previous 26 Test meetings, are now well-placed for a second victory, having registered their fourth-highest total against the island nation.
Mushfiqur played pivotal roles in two crucial partnerships that shifted the game’s momentum. First, he stitched together a record 264-run stand with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who looked fluent on his way to 148 before falling unexpectedly. Shanto was tempted into a mistimed shot by Asitha Fernando and was caught by Angelo Mathews at mid-off.
Unfazed, Mushfiqur then shared a 149-run partnership with Litton Das, who added impetus with his aggressive strokeplay. But the duo’s dismissals within the space of nine deliveries halted Bangladesh’s push toward the 500-run mark.
Galle Test: Day two called off early as Bangladesh close to 500
Sri Lanka responded by adopting a negative bowling line, focusing on the leg side to restrict scoring. Das fell trying to reverse sweep debutant spinner Tharindu Rathnayake, only to top-edge a catch to the keeper.
With the ball starting to reverse swing, Sri Lanka gained ground late in the day. Milan Rathnayake led the charge with three wickets in a post-tea spell, helping trigger the collapse.
“It’s a difficult pitch for bowlers, but I think we did quite well in that final hour with those quick wickets,” said Rathnayake. “We’ve got a strong batting lineup, and we’re aiming to get a lead.”
Asitha Fernando, back from a county stint with Glamorgan, also picked up three wickets. Though recovering from a recent illness, he showed his class by combining pace with variety — delivering sharp bouncers and pinpoint yorkers.
Tharindu Rathnayake, on debut, also impressed with three wickets, despite being used defensively for much of the day.
Yet, the day undoubtedly belonged to Mushfiqur, who thrives in Galle conditions — amassing 482 runs in just four innings at the venue. Among visiting batters, only Pakistan’s Younis Khan (497) and Australia’s Usman Khawaja (490) have scored more at the ground.
“Mushfiqur is a true inspiration for the team,” said Bangladesh catching coach Mohammad Salahuddin. “He might not have had big scores in recent games, but his commitment, work ethic, and leadership in the dressing room are everything you want from a senior player.”