Galle: Sri Lanka held firm to secure a draw in the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle, marking the end of Angelo Mathews’ celebrated Test career. The match saw several momentum swings before ending with both teams sharing the spoils.
After a rain delay of over two hours post-lunch, Bangladesh declared their second innings at 285 for 6, setting Sri Lanka a target of 296 in 37 overs. With a required rate of nearly eight an over, the chase was always going to be improbable. Sri Lanka eventually finished at 72 for 4 after batting out 32 overs, ensuring a draw.
Najmul Hossain Shanto was the star for Bangladesh, scoring centuries in both innings. His second ton, which came after the rain break, was only the third instance of a Bangladesh batter achieving two centuries in the same Test—and his second time doing so. Shanto’s late assault included a flurry of sixes, highlighting the turn and bounce the pitch had developed after being under covers.
Despite the impressive batting, Bangladesh’s cautious approach earlier in the day raised questions. Before rain halted play, they scored at just over three runs an over, seemingly focused on building a secure lead rather than pushing aggressively for a win. By lunch, they led by 247 with 50 overs left in the day, yet the declaration came much later, with only 37 overs left for a potential victory push.
Spinners Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan bowled superbly on a wearing surface. Taijul finished with 3 for 23 and consistently challenged the Sri Lankan batters with both turn and accuracy. His quick strikes, including the dismissals of Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, briefly raised hopes of a Bangladesh win.
However, Sri Lanka’s middle order, led by Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis, held their ground. The pair played out 53 balls together and safely saw the hosts through to the close. With five overs left, the captains agreed to end the match, acknowledging that a result was out of reach.
While Bangladesh showed improvement and control across most of the Test, they might look back at the delayed declaration as a missed opportunity. The Test offered plenty of positives for both sides, and the series remains open with all to play for in the second match.