Bangladesh holds nerve for gritty draw in Galle test

Bangladesh came away with a hard-fought draw against Sri Lanka in the opening Test of their World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, after a thrilling five-day battle at the Galle International Stadium marked by rain interruptions, strong performances, and narrow margins.

The match ended in a stalemate on Sunday, with both teams showcasing resilience and grit. For Bangladesh, it was not just a drawn Test—it was a much-needed morale boost after a difficult run in red-ball cricket.

Batting first, Bangladesh posted an impressive 495 in the first innings, riding on standout performances from Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das. Shanto led from the front with a fine century, while Mushfiqur contributed a commanding 150.

Sri Lanka responded strongly, scoring 485 runs, powered by a brilliant 187-run knock from Pathum Nissanka. With just a 10-run lead, Bangladesh declared their second innings at 285 for 6, with captain Shanto once again starring with an unbeaten 125.

Sri Lanka were set a target of 295 runs in the final innings. Bangladesh’s pacers made early inroads, reducing the hosts to 48 for 4 and raising hopes of a rare away Test win. However, rain—having already disrupted play for two sessions on Day 2—returned on Day 5, halting play for three crucial hours. With time running out, the hosts managed to survive the final day, thanks to a resilient middle-order partnership.

Both captains eventually agreed to settle for a draw. Shanto, with twin centuries in the match, was named Player of the Match. Bangladesh’s individual highlights included Shanto’s double ton, Mushfiqur’s big innings, a five-wicket haul from Nayeem Hasan, and, importantly, four WTC points from the result.

After a disappointing draw at home to Zimbabwe and series losses to the UAE and Pakistan, this performance offered a timely injection of confidence for the Tigers.

The second and final Test of the series begins on June 25 in Colombo. The teams will then face off in three ODIs and three T20Is.