Bangladesh continue to strengthen their position in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, building on their narrow first-innings lead to push further ahead in the second innings.
At the close of day four, Bangladesh lead Sri Lanka by 187 runs overall, with seven wickets still in hand.
The first-innings advantage came largely thanks to Nayeem Hasan’s superb bowling performance. Playing his first overseas Test with the ball, the off-spinner claimed a five-wicket haul, helping dismiss Sri Lanka for 485. Bangladesh had earlier scored 495 in their first innings, securing a 10-run lead.
In the second innings, Bangladesh finished the day on 177 for 3. After a disappointing first innings, opener Sadman Islam bounced back with a fluent 76. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto ended the day unbeaten on a half-century.
Sri Lanka, who resumed the day on 368 for 4, were rattled early on. In just the third over of the morning, captain Dhananjaya de Silva (19) was caught behind off a delivery outside leg stump from Nayeem.
Soon after, Kusal Mendis played a loose shot well outside leg stump to a Hasan Mahmud delivery, giving Litton Das a brilliant catch behind the stumps.
Kamindu Mendis and Milan Ratnayake steadied the innings briefly, adding 84 for the seventh wicket. Milan was eventually bowled for 39, dragging an outside delivery from Hasan onto his stumps.
In the very next over, Nayeem struck again with a beauty to remove Kamindu, who had scored 87. It was another excellent take by Litton Das. Kamindu, who had scored two centuries and an unbeaten 92 in the previous two Tests against Bangladesh, fell short of three figures this time.
Nayeem quickly wrapped up the innings, claiming the last two wickets to complete his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests. Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for just 15 runs.
With a slim 10-run lead, Bangladesh began their second innings but lost Anamul Haque early for 4. His career stats remain underwhelming, with just 143 runs in seven Tests at an average of 11.
Mominul Haque showed brief promise with a six, but fell for 14 in unusual fashion—attempting a sweep, the ball struck his bat and then helmet before being caught at short point.
Shadman and Shanto then added 68 runs for the third wicket, stabilizing the innings. Shadman looked solid before he was dismissed for 76 off 126 balls, including 7 boundaries.
Shanto (56* off 113 balls) and Mushfiqur Rahim (22* off 43) ended the day with an unbeaten 49-run partnership, guiding Bangladesh to a dominant position.
With 94 overs scheduled for the final day on Saturday, Bangladesh will aim to push the lead further and put Sri Lanka under pressure.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh 1st Innings: 495
Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 485 in 131.2 overs (Kamindu Mendis 87, Milan Ratnayake 39; Nayeem Hasan 5-121, Hasan Mahmud 3-74)
Bangladesh 2nd Innings: 177/3 in 57 overs (Sadman 76, Shanto 56*, Mushfiq 22*)
Bangladesh lead by 187 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
