- June 18, 2025
The Galle Test match began with a massive send-off for the enormous Angelo Mathews, an explosive new-ball spell, and the concession of early Sri Lankan dominance, yet at the close of play, it felt like day one had floated away under the captaincy of a pair in green and red. Hey, didn’t just steady the ship—they upgraded it to first class and took it for a ride. From 45 for 3 to 292 for 3 at stumps, Bangladesh’s day could be summarized as a masterclass of determination, poise, and quiet devastation.
Early Wobbles, Then Total Control
Things did not promise well to begin with. The top order collapsed like a paper fan in the sticky heat of Galle – three down for 45. Debutant Tharindu Rathnayake took two wickets in two overs, and Asitha Fernando dismissed Anamul cheaply. Shanto was not that long at the crease and saw wickets crumble around him, but this is where it changed.
Shanto didn’t go into survival mode; he went after the bowlers! On his sixth delivery in the innings, he was down the track, hitting Tharindu straight back over his head. This wasn’t just a shot; it was a statement. By refusing to let the spinner settle, Shanto instantly shifted the momentum in Bangladesh’s favor. What followed was a batter’s university on how to absorb pressure, how to manipulate spin, and how to trap momentum.
Tharindu’s Dream: Start Meets a Brick Wall
At one point, Tharindu looked like the next promising spin option for Sri Lanka. He was bowling with some variety, had the right intentions, and got rewarded early. However, as the innings progressed and he fell out of the game, it became evident he was being overbowled and outwitted by the opposition. This was especially the case with Shanto, who treated Tharindu as a release bowler of sorts. Of Shanto’s 15 boundaries, 10 of them were off the debutant – a clear indication of dominance by Shanto!
Even more interestingly, Sri Lanka was slow to adapt. Jayasuriya was not brought back as quickly as I thought they should have done. Rathnayake was given an extended spell, although he was getting hit – and that seemed to demonstrate a strategy that was still in transition. He teamed up with Milan Rathnayake, who was creating a tidy spell from one end, but this also relieved the pressure on Milan. Meanwhile, Shanto and Mushfiqur calmly kept moving at 3.5 an over without breaking a sweat!
Experience Trumps Hype Every Time
It wasn’t just a day of runs, it was a day of experience, not just experience for Mushfiqur Rahim, but experience valuing itself. His innings lacked flair, but it overflowed with timeless class. Coming in at 45 for 3 and under true pressure, he forged a 247-run partnership with Shanto that had Bangladesh in a dominant position. Where Shanto was aggressive and attacking, Mushfiqur was solid.
At the end of the day, the pitch looked flat, Sri Lanka looked flat, and Bangladesh’s game plan was one of subservience. Still a long road ahead—but this was one heck of a statement.
Bangladesh’s day in Galle was more than just two tons; it was two players taking the reins of the game and not letting go. Shanto being aggressive, Mushfiqur being as calm as a cucumber, and Sri Lanka’s tactical ineptness meant the game went from evenly balanced to one-way traffic. With the pitch better than friendly and wickets intact, can Bangladesh now bat Sri Lanka completely out of the game? Or, is day two going to have a plot twist? It’s worth hanging around for—this Test is heating up.
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