Rahim starred with a brilliant 163 to lead Bangladesh to a strong position on Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. His experienced knock, backed by Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 148 and Litton Das’s fluent 90, helped the visitors reach 484/9 at Stumps. Despite rain interruptions and a late collapse, Bangladesh remained in control.

Anchors the Innings with Class and Patience

Mushfiqur Rahim played a vintage Test innings, mixing caution with aggression as needed. Starting the day well-set, he showed his mastery against spin and pace alike. He played mostly within the line, showed excellent judgment outside off stump, and used his wrists effectively to rotate the strike.

Notably, Rahim’s 163 was his seventh 150-plus score in Test cricket, underlining his consistency and value to Bangladesh’s red-ball side. Moreover, his partnership-building ability was on full display, especially with Shanto and later with Litton.

Shanto Joins in Frustrating Sri Lanka

Najmul Hossain Shanto continued his fine form from Day 1, beginning the morning session with a beautiful flick to the boundary. The left-hander grew in confidence with every over and formed a strong second-wicket stand with Rahim. As a result, they guided Bangladesh past the 300-mark with ease.

Shanto did survive a close LBW review on 142. However, he couldn’t capitalize further and fell for 148 after mistiming a chip to Angelo Mathews. Still, his innings provided a rock-solid platform.

Litton Das Adds Firepower

After Shanto’s departure, Litton Das came in and immediately injected momentum into the innings. He began with a stylish boundary off Jayasuriya and continued playing positively. Though he survived a run-out scare and a dropped catch, Litton batted fluently and took pressure off Rahim.

Furthermore, his 90 came at a brisk pace and included a mix of traditional and innovative strokes. Together with Rahim, he built a crucial 149-run stand that pushed Bangladesh past 400 in the second session.

Rahim Reaches 150 as Bangladesh Accelerate

Following the Lunch break, Rahim continued confidently, creaming two boundaries to bring up his 150. It was a moment of celebration for Bangladesh, as the visitors looked to build a massive total. Meanwhile, Litton too crossed his fifty quickly, and the 100-run partnership between the two came up in style.

Clearly, Bangladesh’s intent was to dominate, and both batters showed urgency to capitalize before rain disrupted the momentum.

Rain Interrupts Play but Rahim Stays Composed

A rain delay in the second session lasted for nearly two and a half hours. Once play resumed, Litton attacked Jayasuriya, smashing boundaries across multiple overs. Rahim, meanwhile, focused on strike rotation and minimizing risk.

Eventually, just as the partnership threatened to take the game away, Rahim was adjudged LBW to Rathnayake for 163 — a crucial breakthrough for the hosts.

Dismissal Sparks Collapse

Undeniably, Rahim’s wicket shifted the momentum. Soon after, Litton fell for 90, mistiming a paddle sweep to short fine-leg. Thereafter, Sri Lanka made a spirited comeback. Milan Rathnayake bowled with superb control, removing Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, and Nayeem Hasan in quick succession.

Consequently, Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 26 runs, collapsing from 458/4 to 484/9 by stumps.

Day 2 Score Summary

Bangladesh 484/9

• Mushfiqur Rahim – 163
• Najmul Hossain Shanto – 148
• Litton Das – 90
• Milan Rathnayake – 3/38
• Asitha Fernando – 3/79

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