Galle, Sri Lanka – Day 1 Dominance by Bangladesh in Full Swing Toss, Conditions & Early Drama On June 17, 2025, the historic Galle International Stadium hosted the first Test of the two-match series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh—the bright opener of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship.
Morning sunlight glinted off the pitch as Bangladesh’s openers, Shadman Islam and Anamul Haque, strode out bravely. But it didn’t take long for Sri Lanka to make their mark. Asitha Fernando, controlling the new ball masterfully, induced an early edge from Anamul, who was dismissed for a duck.
The shake-up continued as debutant spinner Tharindu Ratnayake made an immediate impact, combining flight and turn to claim two wickets in quick succession cleaning up Shadman and Mominul Haque, reducing Bangladesh to 45/3 in just over an hour
A quiet drama unfolded: the revered Angelo Mathews received a heartfelt guard of honour and applause in his farewell Test, making this opening ball of the WTC campaign imbued with sentiment and significance
Rescue Act: The Shanto Rahim Masterclass
With the early collapse, the heart of Bangladesh’s innings would rest on the shoulders of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim. What followed was nothing short of sensational: a record breaking, unbeaten partnership of 247 runs for the fourth wicket
Steadying the Ship
By lunch, Shanto and Rahim had ushered Bangladesh to 90/3, adding over 45 runs amidst bowling intensity from Sri Lanka, their combined grit exuding calm under pressure
The afternoon session bolstered confidence they added 92 runs in 30 overs, finding a rhythm that left Sri Lankan attackers frustrated.
Evening Acceleration
As dusk fell, momentum intensified. Both batters capitalized on a pitch that, while friendlier to bowlers than usual, offered a psychological retreat as each ran comfortably between wickets . Shanto brought up his sixth Test century (136) with aggressive intent 14 fours and a six animating the stands . Rahim followed, reaching his 12th Test ton (105) in focused, gritty fashion, eclipsing Mohammad Ashraful’s previous record to become Bangladesh’s leading run-scorer in Sri Lankan Tests
By stumps, Bangladesh were 292/3—well-placed, with Shanto and Rahim unbeaten, their stand for the ages now etched into records.
Record-Breaking Stand & Historical Milestones
Highest fourth-wicket partnership for Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
Their 247-run collaboration surpassed the old mark of 180 by Litton Das and Mominul Haque set in 2018
Second-highest fourth-wicket partnership at Galle in Test history
Just behind Australia’s 259-run stand in 2025, this feat highlights the exceptional quality of their stand
Mushfiqur Rahim becomes Bangladesh’s top Test run-scorer in Sri Lanka
His 105* not only sealed personal form but also overtook Ashraful’s tally to reach a new high (755 Test runs in Sri Lanka)
Shanto, lifting from a lean patch, grounded the innings with maturity—a captain’s innings that came at just the right time.
Sri Lanka’s Challenges & Debutant Storylines
Bowling Responders and Reservations
While Fernando and Ratnayake captured early momentum, their success remained fleeting. The pitch offered bowlers spin and bounce intermittently, but faltered in delivering consistency later in the day
. Sri Lanka’s debutant Lahiru Udara and others endured a tough initiation as the partnerships firmly seized control.
Sensing the shift, Sri Lanka introduced both spin and pace—including the second new ball—but to no effect. The lack of variation cost them big time when confrontation stayed one-sided
Tharindu Ratnayake – bright sparks dimmed
A spin sensation in debut, Ratnayake’s twin wickets brought hope. But under pressure, he was over-bowled and recycled too often, leaving seasoned batsmen to exploit gaps—particularly Shanto targeting him for boundaries .
Angelo Mathews’ Swan Song
The retirement of Mathews before the series added poignancy. A stalwart with 8,167 Test runs and 119 appearances, Mathews exited with reverence in the opening ceremony, but had little time to mark his farewell with the ball.
Historical Rivalry & Recent Trends
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have faced off in 100 official matches across formats. Sri Lanka holds a dominant lead—winning 74 times to Bangladesh’s 19—but Bangladesh has grown in stature, especially in ODIs and T20s.
In Tests: Sri Lanka leads 20–1 across 26 matches.
ODIs: Sri Lanka leads 43–12.
T20s: Sri Lanka leads 11–6.
Bangladesh’s sporadic victories in ODIs World Cups and Asia Cup signal a rising threat, even if Sri Lanka remains historically superior.
What Lies Ahead: Series Preview & Tactics
Bangladesh Strategies
Bat Long: Their plan to accumulate a massive first-innings total paid early dividends. Shanto and Rahim set the tone—expect bold batting across the lineup.
Support the Strike Partnership: With Day 1 going so well, selecting bowlers who can take early strike on Day 2 will be crucial. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam are vital spin options.
Sri Lanka Adjustments
Bowling Plans: They need sharper variation—especially from seamers—targeted at tail-end batsmen. Scripts like reverse swing or safer lines could be key.
Fielding Precision: The dropped chance on Rahim early in his innings proved costly—tighter fielding may prevent similar partnerships.
Atmospheric & Pitch Forecast
Galle pitches often devolve from docile to spin-heavy tackers. Day 1’s play showed them flatter than expected, but Day 2 onwards likely to tilt toward spinners, offering Sri Lanka hope if batsmen try to accelerate.
Statistical Snapshot – Day 1 at Galle
Team Status at Stumps
Bangladesh 292/3 in 90 overs
Key Partnerships Shanto–Rahim 247* (4th wicket)
Top Scorers Shanto 136, Rahim 105
Sri Lanka Wickets Ratnayake 2–124, Fernando 1–51
Session Scores Morning: 45/3 → Lunch 90/3 (28 overs) Afternoon: +92 runs (30 overs) Evening: +110 runs (32 overs)
Highlight Reel
Watch the best moments from Day 1: centuries, debut nerves, and Galle’s glowing atmosphere.
Day 2 Outlook & Tactical Sheet
Bangladesh’s Plan:
Build an imposing lead—posting 450+ could put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
Rotate strike to support both batsmen in longer sessions.
Prepare a bowling assault targeting turn; Taijul and Miraz expected as key options.
Sri Lanka’s Counters:
Prabath Jayasuriya and Milan Rathnayake need to step up—spin remains their best offensive.
Keep Rahim and Shanto quiet with disciplined lines and thick rings.
Pressure the middle-overs to force a collapse before pitch deteriorates further.
An early breakthrough on Day 2 could tilt the contest. If Bangladesh survive morning, they could declare with a lead over 300, forcing Sri Lanka to bat under spinning duress.
🎯 Verdict & Long-Term Implications
Bangladesh leap out with top spot on the WTC table momentum and morale high.
Sri Lanka, coping with fresh blood and farewells, will face pressure but retain home advantage and spin options.
This match shapes up as a profound shift—Bangladesh playing with purpose, Sri Lanka needing urgent responses.
The journey has only begun and what a debut Day 1 it was! As the sun sets over Galle, cricketing drama is only just unfolding. Day 2 promises battles of nerve, skill, and strategy.