Shanto, Mushfiqur steer Bangladesh to 187-run lead at stumps
Bangladesh ended the penultimate day of the Galle Test as the happier of the two sides thanks to opener Shadman Islam's 76 and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto's unbeaten 56 as the visitors have reached 177-3 at stumps to lead Sri Lanka by 187 runs heading into the final day.
The Tigers overcame the jitters from the earlier session, which ended with them on 65-2, adding 112 runs in the post-tea session for the loss of one wicket- an effort that has significantly reduced the risk of defeat for Bangladesh on the final day.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. On a pitch that is still overwhelmingly favouring the batters, Shadman and Shanto added 68 runs for the third wicket with the former bringing up his sixth fifty in Tests.
Shadman seemed in complete control, gradually moving towards the triple-figure mark, before seamer Milan Rathnayake brought one ball back in sharply, hitting him on the back leg to trap him out lbw for 76.
The centurions from the first innings, Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim, then joined hands, forming a 49-run stand to ensure Bangladesh went into the final day with seven wickets in hand.
Shanto, who made 148 in the first innings, is batting on 56 while Mushfiqur, who had scored 163 in his earlier outing, is unbeaten on 22.
Earlier in the day, off-spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed his first five-wicket haul overseas to bundle out Sri Lanka for 485 in the second session, earning the Tigers a 10-run lead.
No joy yet as Bijoy's barren run continues in Galle
Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy's prolonged Test struggles continued as he departed for just four in Bangladesh's second innings of the Galle Test on Day 4 today, following a duck in the first.
His early dismissal, and Mominul Haque mistiming a sweep shot at the stroke of Tea, left the visitors at 65 for two after 22 overs at the end of the day's penultimate session, leading Sri Lanka by 75 runs, with dark clouds once again threatening interruption.
The right-hander fell to Prabath Jayasuriya, who claimed his first wicket of the match after going wicketless in the first innings despite bowling 48 overs for 148 runs. This time, the Galle specialist found purchase from the surface -- a delivery that gripped and bounced sharply outside off caught Bijoy poking away from his body. A faint edge carried through to Kusal Mendis, who made no mistake behind the stumps.
The breakthrough embodied Bijoy's barren run in Tests. Since making his debut in Galle against Sri Lanka back in 2013, where he tallied 14 runs in two innings, his Test average has now dipped to a sorry 11 across 13 innings -- with a highest score of just 33.
As the pitch begins to take increasing turn and with weather disruptions looming, Bangladesh will need a composed and determined effort from opener Shadman Hossain (44 not out off 67 balls) and remaining batters if they are to set a defendable target and give their spinners something to work with on a wearing surface.
Nayeem's 5-for helps Bangladesh snatch 10-run lead
Bangladesh bowlers roared back into action after Lunch on Day 4 of the Galle Test, ripping through Sri Lanka's lower order to seize a slender 10-run first-innings lead today.
Hasan Mahmud started the slide in the third over of the session, removing Milan Rathnayake for 39 with a delivery that stayed low and dragged onto the stumps.
Just an over later, Nayeem Hasan delivered a beauty to dismiss the well-set Kamindu Mendis for 87 -- a ball that drifted in, turned sharply, and bounced to find the outside edge, expertly pouched by Litton Das behind the stumps.
Nayeem capped off his spell with a bowled dismissal of last man Asitha Fernando, finishing with figures of five for 121 in 43.5 overs -- his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, and remarkably, his first-ever appearance in overseas conditions, seven years after making his Test debut.
Pacer Hasan Mahmud, with 3 wickets, also played a key role in the fightback.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 485 in 131.2 overs, collapsing after a promising morning session and handing Bangladesh a narrow lead.
Litton Das remained sharp behind the stumps throughout, collecting four catches. And despite his dismissal, Kamindu Mendis extended his impressive Test record against Bangladesh, with his average now standing at 113.5 from five innings.
Kamindu makes life hard for Bangladesh again, averages 150 in 5 innings
Bangladesh lost the early momentum they had built on the fourth morning in Galle Test today, as Kamindu Mendis once again proved to be a thorn in their side.
Sri Lanka's first innings reached 465 for six in 124 overs at Lunch on Day 4 -- still trailing by 30 runs -- riding on an unbroken 79-run seventh-wicket stand between Kamindu (83* off 139 balls; 7 fours, 1 six) and Milan Rathnayake (38*).
The hosts added 97 runs in the session for the loss of two wickets, making it a productive period in their bid to erase the first-innings deficit, and gain stronghold in the evenly balanced affair so far.
Earlier, the visitors had struck twice in the first hour, removing Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis. But Kamindu, who came into the match with a stunning record against Bangladesh -- including scores of 102, 164, and 92* in just two Tests -- continued to pile on the runs, extending his average against them to a staggering 150.
Litton Das's sharp wicketkeeping had lifted Bangladesh in the morning, but they were left searching for answers by the end of the session.
Bangladesh bounce back on Day 4 with Litton's safe hands
Bangladesh responded strongly on the fourth morning of the first Test in Galle, striking twice in quick succession to halt Sri Lanka's charge.
Resuming on 368 for four, the hosts lost overnight batter Dhananjaya de Silva for 15, nicking one down the leg side off Nayeem Hasan, with Litton Das taking a sharp catch behind the stumps.
Shortly after, Kusal Mendis fell to a similar dismissal, edging a harmless delivery from Hasan Mahmud, as Litton produced a stunning diving take with his left glove to complete a superb piece of wicketkeeping.
Sri Lanka were 403 for six, still trailing Bangladesh's first-innings total of 495. Overnight batter Kamindu Mendis is not out on 57, having registered his 10th fifty-plus score in 22 innings so far.
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