On a historic opening day of the first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the visiting side mounted a stunning recovery led by the commanding partnership of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim. Their unbeaten 247-run stand propelled Bangladesh to a dominant position at stumps, finishing on 292 for 3 after an early wobble threatened to derail their innings.
What began as a morning filled with tension and early breakthroughs for the hosts, evolved into an exhibition of grit, maturity, and technical excellence by two of Bangladesh’s most dependable batters. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain, remained unbeaten on a magnificent 136, while the ever-reliable Mushfiqur Rahim brought up his 12th Test century, finishing the day on 105 not out.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim smashed stylish centuries as Bangladesh ended the opening day on a high 🔥#SLvBAN 📝: https://t.co/FVvOYQ8l3q pic.twitter.com/X91BjgmBjR
— ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2025
A Rocky Start Under Overcast Skies
Bangladesh’s innings began in familiar fashion — under pressure and on the back foot. Opting to bat first on a pitch that looked flat but promised turn, Shanto’s decision came under immediate scrutiny. Openers Shadman Islam and Anamul Haque were tested early by disciplined seam bowling from Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando. Anamul, in particular, struggled to get off the mark and eventually perished for a 10-ball duck, caught behind off a loose poke that offered little conviction.
With only 13 runs on the board, the introduction of spin in just the eighth over proved telling. Tharindu Rathnayake, the offspinner, was brought on early and made an immediate impact. He induced a false shot from Mominul Haque, which was initially dropped at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva but capitalized soon after with two quick wickets — first removing Shadman with a sharp turning delivery, and then making amends for the earlier drop by having Mominul caught in the cordon.
By the time the scoreboard read 45 for 3, Bangladesh were reeling, and Sri Lanka looked firmly in control.
The Turnaround Begins: Najmul and Mushfiqur Take Charge
From that precarious position, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Rahim stitched together what can only be described as a monumental partnership. Their collaboration began cautiously, with an acute focus on survival and strike rotation. Gradually, they grew in confidence and began manipulating the field with precision. Shanto, in particular, displayed exquisite footwork against the spinners, often coming down the track to neutralize the turn and driving with elegance over mid-off and through extra cover.
Rahim, on the other hand, opted for more subtle methods — employing the sweep and paddle sweep with deft control. His use of soft hands against Prabath Jayasuriya and Rathnayake allowed him to rotate strike efficiently, preventing the bowlers from settling into rhythm.
By the Lunch interval, Bangladesh had weathered the storm, reaching 113 for 3. More importantly, they had built a solid foundation to launch from.
Dominance in the Second Session
After the break, the momentum shifted decisively. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, despite their persistence, failed to find a breakthrough as the two batters accelerated the scoring with authority. Rahim latched onto anything short, pulling and cutting ferociously. Shanto continued to punish the spinners with his confident stride down the wicket, blunting their threat with calculated aggression.
The 100-run partnership came with little fuss, followed by back-to-back half-centuries. Rahim’s innings was a study in resilience, marked by flawless technique and a sharp cricketing mind. He manipulated the angles cleverly, often forcing the fielding captain to alter plans without being overtly aggressive.
Sri Lanka tried switching ends, rotating bowlers, and even resorting to defensive lines — particularly around the leg stump to restrict boundaries — but nothing worked. By the time the second new ball approached, both batters had not only steadied the innings but taken full control of it.
A Glorious Evening Session: Milestones and Mastery
As shadows lengthened across Galle, the Bangladesh duo raised the bar even higher. Shanto reached his sixth Test century with a commanding sweep through square leg, a shot that symbolized the ease with which he was playing. The celebration was muted, but the significance was enormous — a captain’s knock under immense pressure on foreign soil.
Rahim was equally composed as he neared his own milestone. With time winding down toward stumps, he glided a late cut past backward point to bring up his 12th Test hundred, reaffirming his status as one of Bangladesh’s all-time greats. His innings was laced with 12 boundaries, each a testament to his control and shot selection.
Their stand of 247* became one of Bangladesh’s highest for the fourth wicket in Test history, and the lack of wickets after the first session exposed Sri Lanka’s limited bowling resources. Jayasuriya and Rathnayake combined for 61 overs but lacked penetration. Asitha Fernando, despite a bright start, was unable to extract reverse swing late in the day, while Milan Rathnayake and Dhananjaya de Silva offered little threat.
Sri Lanka’s Struggles with the Ball
The decision to use only five bowling options left Sri Lanka thin in terms of variety. With the pitch offering slow turn and not enough bite off the surface, their reliance on spin backfired. Jayasuriya in particular struggled to maintain control, and while Tharindu picked up two wickets, he was expensive and eventually contained.
The lack of a quality third seamer hurt the hosts as they failed to sustain pressure from both ends. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva was forced to rotate his main bowlers more frequently, resulting in fatigue and inconsistency. Even defensive field placements failed to stifle the scoring rate, with both batters picking gaps at will.
Score Summary at Stumps – Day 1
Bangladesh 292/3 in 90 overs
- Najmul Hossain Shanto: 136* (255 balls, 16 fours)
- Mushfiqur Rahim: 105* (209 balls, 12 fours)
- Tharindu Rathnayake: 2/124 (31 overs)
- Asitha Fernando: 1/51 (14 overs)
Looking Ahead to Day 2
Bangladesh enters Day 2 with a golden opportunity to extend their dominance and post a total well in excess of 450. The pitch, while still offering decent batting conditions, is expected to break up gradually, bringing their own spin duo into play later in the match. If the visitors can add another 150 runs without losing quick wickets, they will be in a position to dictate terms for the remainder of the Test.
For Sri Lanka, early wickets will be essential. The second new ball, still relatively fresh, must be used effectively in the morning session. They will also need a rethink of their bowling strategy, perhaps including more short-pitched deliveries and aggressive field placements, to claw back control.
With conditions expected to remain dry and the pitch wearing quickly, the match is tilting heavily in Bangladesh’s favor — a remarkable turnaround considering their early collapse.
Place your bets at JitaBet, JitaWin, and JitaGo they offer really good odds, play and win big!
6th Test Hundred for Najmul Hossain Shanto — 2nd as captain! 💯🔥
— Cricket97 (@cricket97bd) June 17, 2025
What an outstanding effort from the Bangladesh skipper! Leading with grit and class. 🇧🇩👏#BANvSL #SLvBAN #NajmulHossainShanto pic.twitter.com/4tvQaSgJYR
Conclusion
Bangladesh’s performance on Day 1 was a story of resilience, class, and composure. From 45 for 3 to 292 for 3, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim transformed the narrative in spectacular fashion. As the Test unfolds in the coming days, their stand could well be the decisive passage of play that lays the foundation for a memorable overseas victory.
This day will be remembered not just for the milestones but for the message it sent: Bangladesh’s batting order is evolving into a mature and formidable force capable of weathering storms and capitalizing on opportunities with clinical precision.
