BANGLADESH’S TOUR OF SRI LANKA, 2025
Nayeem finished with figures of 5 for 121. © Getty
Kamindu Mendis’s 87, Nayeem Hasan’s five-wicket haul and fifties from Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto were the highlights of the fourth day’s play in Galle that Bangladesh finished with a lead of 187. Sri Lanka suffered early blows at the start of the day but Kamindu Mendis ensured they got close to Bangladesh’s total of 495, finishing only 10 short of it as Nayeem returned figures of 5-121. Bangladesh then rode on Shadman and Shanto’s solid knocks in their second innings to move to 177/3 at Stumps.
Starting the day at 368/4, Sri Lanka had a couple of setbacks as they lost Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis early in the morning session. De Silva guided a Nayeem Hasan to the ‘keeper’s gloves while Kusal Mendis was caught down the leg-side off Hasan Mahmud. Kamindu Mendis then went past fifty and was involved in a good stand with Milan Rathnayake as they helped Sri Lanka close in on Bangladesh’s total. The duo dealt in regular boundaries while Mendis also pulled a short ball from Nahid Rana for a six as they took Sri Lanka to 465/6 at Lunch.
Bangladesh hit back early in the second session as Milan Rathnayake inside-edged a Mahmud delivery onto the stumps attempting a pull to depart for 39, ending the seventh-wicket partnership worth 84. Kamindu Mendis fell soon after, caught behind off Nayeem, who also had Tharindu Ratnayake bowled in the same over. Prabath Jayasuriya and Asitha Fernando struck a few boundaries between them but the latter was bowled by Nayeem, who bagged his fourth fifer in Tests as Sri Lanka lost 4 wickets for 20 runs post the lunch break to concede a 10-run lead.
The Bangladesh openers got off to a watchful start in their second innings, with Anamul Haque surviving a leg-before shout off Jayasuriya thanks to umpire’s call. Shadman got going with a couple of fours off Fernando, the first one being an edge that went wide of second slip. The opening stand, however, didn’t last long as Anamul edged to the ‘keeper off Jayasuriya. Mominul Haque struck a six off Tharindu but the bowler had the last laugh a few overs later as the batter got a top edge attempting a paddle sweep, with Bangladesh going to 65/2 at Tea.
Shanto and Shadman began the third session with a few boundaries, with the latter getting past fifty, as they took Bangladesh past 100. Shadman struck an elegant straight drive for a four off Fernando, bringing up an important half-century stand. The batters grew in confidence, with Shanto even bringing out the reverse sweep for a boundary off De Silva. The pair added 68 before Milan ended the partnership as Shadman was trapped in front and took a review with him. A useful stand between Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim ensued, with the former getting past fifty late in the day.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 495 & 177/3 (Shadman Islam 76, Najmul Hossain Shanto 56*; Milan Rathnayake 1-13) lead Sri Lanka 485 (Pathum Nissanka 187, Kamindu Mendis 87; Nayeem Hasan 5-121) by 187 runs.
© Cricbuzz
