The Galle wicket remained batting-friendly for the third successive day and the Sri Lankan batters made the most of it against a toothless Bangladeshi attack, reaching 368-4 at stumps to trail the visitors by just 127 runs at the end of the third day's play yesterday.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hopes that his side would start the upcoming ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle on the right foot as they prepare to take on hosts Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series, scheduled to get underway on Tuesday in Galle.
Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews on Monday said that he holds no grudges over getting timed out by Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup a day before facing the familiar foes in his final ever Test match in Galle.
Rain threat looms large over the opening Test of the two-match series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium as the city is likely to witness light to heavy rain throughout five days of the match according to the weather forecast..
The full Test squad, however, returned to action on Monday, with newly-appointed pace bowling coach Shaun Tait taking charge of the seamers for the first time.
“I am extremely happy to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month, which I consider an inspiration for my international career,” Mendis was quoted in an ICC press release.
Chandimal, who made 59 in the first innings and nine in the second innings, returned home on the fourth day of the match
The Lankans, who resumed the day's play on 102-6. added, 55 runs in the first hour of play before declaring the innings
He joined Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan in the 4000s club. It took him 113 innings to reach the milestone.
This was the first time Sri Lanka's quicks had taken all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match in Asia since 1992.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka fast-bowling coach Dharshana Gamage thinks "300-plus us a good score to defend".
In total, the three bowlers made 84 runs while the other specialist bowler in the team, Nahid Rana, remained unbeaten on 0.
Bangladesh lost their final four wickets in the second session for 56 runs to be bundled out for 188 in 51.3 overs, conceding a 92-run first innings lead to Sri Lanka
Rana’s very first delivery in international cricket was at 146 km/h, which for a 21-year-old pacer who picked up the cricket ball after turning 18, was quite remarkable.
Bangladesh could end up debuting two pacers in the match - Mushfik Hasan and Nahid Rana—hinted Hathurusingha.
Bangladesh are yet to win a Test against Sri Lanka at home.
If he were not included in the squad for Bangladesh Tests, the Sri Lanka T20 captain would have to sit out the first four matches of the World Cup.
After winning the three-match T20I series 2-1, the Sri Lankan players celebrated with the time out celebration
Bangladesh finished last in the 2021-2023 World Test Championship, winning just one of their 12 matches.
