Bangladesh started Day 2 of the Galle Test in full control.
By lunch, they were four down for 423. Mushfiqur anchored the innings with 159*, Liton supported on 61*, as their partnership reached 114. Fans eagerly hoped for a double ton and a Liton hundred.
But after a rain delay, things fell apart.
First, Mushfiqur fell for 163. He had been inching toward his second Test double hundred. It didn’t happen. A review couldn’t save him. As he walked back, non-striker Liton ran over to pat him on the back. Inside the dressing room, his teammates clapped.
The next over, Liton tried a reverse sweep and was caught behind for 90.
From 423 for 4, Bangladesh slipped to 458 for 6. Then Zakir Ali was bowled for 8. The 500-run mark suddenly looked distant.
Taijul Islam went next, and Bangladesh ended the day at 484 for 9, 11 overs short due to bad light.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, after looking toothless for much of the day, bounced back late. Milan Ratnayake and Asitha Fernando shared key wickets. Ratnayake’s inswinger bowled Zakir. Fernando trapped Mushfiqur lbw.
Earlier in the day, it looked different
The day began on a different note. But in the second session, Mushfiqur and Liton took charge. Mushfiqur reached 150 with a boundary in the 120th over. Liton followed up with his 18th Test fifty.
Bangladesh crossed 400 runs. Then 450. In the 138th over, Liton hit a four to bring up the mark. His confidence was clear — batting like it was a One Day International.
Mushfiqur almost lost his wicket in the 131st over. The umpire gave him not out, and Sri Lanka reviewed. Ball tracking confirmed the on-field call.
Then came the rain. The game paused. And when it resumed, so did Sri Lanka’s comeback.
Back in the morning, the Tigers were building a mountain
They resumed at 292 for 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto was on 136, Mushfiqur on 105. Their partnership from the day before had frustrated Sri Lanka. They had added 247 runs already.
Shanto crossed 148 before edging to Angelo Mathews. His knock had 15 boundaries and a six from 279 balls. His dismissal was a turning point.
Still, Mushfiqur found a new partner in Liton. They looked confident — even risky at times. In the 103rd over, a miscommunication nearly ran Liton out. In the 109th over, Pathum Nissanka dropped him at midwicket.
Liton punished the mistake with three straight boundaries in the next over. Bangladesh moved past 350.
At lunch, only Shanto had fallen in the morning.
But cricket can change fast
One session made all the difference. From a potential 500-plus, Bangladesh is now at risk of being bowled out under 500. Sri Lanka, who had dropped catches and looked directionless for much of the innings, ended Day 2 with renewed confidence.
The match is wide open.
Day 3 will test whether Bangladesh can add any more runs and whether their bowlers can defend what’s already on the board.
