Galle, June 21, 2025: Sri Lanka survived a tense final session on the fifth day to secure a draw in the first Test against Bangladesh at Galle International Stadium, after batting out 32 overs and losing four wickets along the way. The hosts ultimately shut down any late drama thanks to a resolute stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis.
The match ended with both sides shaking hands five overs before scheduled close of play, with Dhananjaya and Kamindu having safely negotiated 53 deliveries in their partnership. Despite the draw, Bangladesh will leave Galle pondering a key strategic question: could they have declared earlier and pushed harder for a result?
Sri Lanka looked momentarily rattled when they lost seasoned campaigners Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal in quick succession, both falling to left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who finished with excellent figures of 3 for 23. However, despite Taijul and off-spinner Nayeem Hasan exploiting the sharply turning surface, Sri Lanka managed to hold firm with six wickets intact when play concluded.
The visitors had set Sri Lanka a daunting target of 296 in 37 overs following a rain delay of nearly two and a half hours post-lunch. Bangladesh added 48 runs in 11 overs after the interruption, a period that seemed more focused on allowing Najmul Hossain Shanto to reach a personal milestone — his second century of the match. It was only the third time a Bangladeshi batter had scored twin centuries in a Test, and Shanto’s second instance of the feat.
However, Shanto’s pursuit of the landmark took 50 balls post-rain break, during which Bangladesh scored only 19 runs and lost Litton Das and Jaker Ali. The tempo changed abruptly afterward, with Shanto launching three sixes and helping add 28 runs in just 16 balls, as the pitch began to offer dramatic turn due to moisture under the covers.
This sequence highlighted a broader issue with Bangladesh’s approach. In the morning session before the rain, they scored at just 3.15 runs per over — a conservative rate, given the conditions and match context. Many observers believe that with a lead of 247 by the break and 50 overs left in the day, a declaration then might have given their bowlers more time to take the remaining ten wickets.
Bangladesh, however, opted for caution — possibly influenced by their poor recent form in Tests and the desire to protect World Test Championship points. The defensive fields set by Sri Lanka only reinforced the conservative approach.
Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan made the most of the deteriorating Galle pitch. Taijul was particularly threatening, taking wickets with both turn and variation. He dismissed Mathews with a sharply turning arm-ball that popped up off the inside edge, and then bowled Chandimal through the gate. He had earlier stumped Lahiru Udara with a clever change of length, while Nayeem chipped in by removing Nissanka, who misread the turn and chipped one to short midwicket.
While the draw was a fair result, it left Bangladesh wondering what might have been. The spinners had the surface, the momentum, and arguably enough time — had they been given it.
The second Test of the series will now take on added significance, with both sides looking to capitalize on lessons learned from Galle.
