Bangladesh dominated most of Day 2 in Galle, thanks to a superb batting display led by Mushfiqur Rahim’s 163 and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 148. Litton Das added a brisk 90 as the visitors piled on 484/9 at stumps. However, Sri Lanka mounted a late fightback, claiming five wickets for just 26 runs to close the rain-hit day on a positive note.
Despite the weather shortening play to 61 overs, the morning session saw Bangladesh build on their strong position. Shanto, aiming for his maiden double-century after encouragement from Rahim on Day 1, began confidently with a stylish flick to the mid-wicket boundary that took the score past 300. However, after surviving a close LBW appeal at 142, he added just six more before chipping a catch to Angelo Mathews off Asitha Fernando.
At the other end, Rahim batted with typical control, respecting the conditions while finding boundaries when possible. Litton Das got going with a crisp drive off Prabath Jayasuriya, who bowled all 13 overs from one end in the morning but found little reward. Litton survived a major scare when both he and Rahim ended up at the same end during a run-out chance. Soon after, he got another life when Pathum Nissanka dropped him off Tharindu Rathnayake. Litton responded by smashing three consecutive boundaries to finish the over, and the pair launched a flurry of boundaries against Jayasuriya as lunch approached.
After the break, Rahim brought up his seventh 150-plus score in Tests with two sweetly timed boundaries. Litton punished over-pitched deliveries from Rathnayake as Bangladesh surged past the 400-mark. He reached his half-century off just 64 balls and soon helped raise the century stand with Rahim, pushing the tempo before the rain interrupted play midway through the second session.
Once play resumed after a 2.5-hour delay, Litton continued his assault on Jayasuriya with several flat-batted boundaries. He moved confidently into the 90s, paddle-sweeping Tharindu with ease. But just as Bangladesh seemed set for a massive total, Rahim fell LBW, ending their 149-run stand. Litton followed soon after, dismissed by Tharindu for 90, and Sri Lanka sensed an opening.
Seizing the momentum, Milan Rathnayake bowled Jaker Ali and dismissed Taijul Islam in quick succession during a fiery spell. He returned to remove Nayeem Hasan, caught behind by Kusal Mendis, to finish the day with figures of 3 for 38, helping restrict Bangladesh below the 500-run mark.
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