BD take control after dramatic turn in Galle Test
Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim (R) and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto run between the wickets on the fourth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Friday. PHOTO: AFP
What seemed like a batting paradise for the first three days took a dramatic turn after the lunch break on day four, catching even Bangladesh's pace bowling coach Shaun Tait by surprise. The once-flat Galle wicket suddenly began to challenge batters, with seven wickets falling in the final two sessions. If the pitch and weather conditions remain unchanged, an exciting finish is on the cards on the final day.
Bangladesh, holding a 10-run lead going into their second innings, reached 177 for 3 by stumps on day four, stretching their overall lead to 187 runs. The third session saw visible signs of deterioration, with dust coming off the surface and the batters facing significant challenges.
Despite the tougher conditions, half-centuries from Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto helped put Bangladesh in a strong position. The pair added 68 runs for the third wicket, after which Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim began building another significant partnership, putting on an unbeaten 49 runs for the fourth wicket. Shanto remained not out on 56, while Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 20.
Earlier in the innings, opener Anamul Haque Bijoy once again failed to deliver, scoring just 4 off 14 balls after a duck in the first innings. His fellow opener, Shadman, added 36 runs with Mominul Haque for the second wicket. Mominul, like in the first innings, got settled before throwing his wicket away with a sweep shot, managing 14 off 40 deliveries.
Shadman, who looked in good touch, reached his sixth Test fifty and went on to score 76 off 126 balls with seven boundaries before getting out. Shanto continued the momentum and brought up his sixth Test half-century as well.
Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Prabath Jayasuriya, Tarindu Ratnayake, and Milan Ratnayake claimed one wicket each.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka were firmly in the lead and looked poised to overtake Bangladesh's first-innings total with ease. Resuming the morning session on 465 for 6, with Kamindu Mendis and Milan Ratnayake at the crease, they reached the break with their advantage intact. However, a post-lunch collapse saw them lose their last four wickets for just 20 runs, getting bowled out for 485falling short by 10 runs. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was the star for Bangladesh, picking up five wickets.
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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
BD take control after dramatic turn in Galle Test
Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim (R) and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto run between the wickets on the fourth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Friday. PHOTO: AFP What seemed like a batting paradise for the first three days took a dramatic turn after the lunch break on day four, catching even Bangladesh's pace bowling coach Shaun Tait by surprise. The once-flat Galle wicket suddenly began to challenge batters, with seven wickets falling in the final two sessions. If the pitch and weather conditions remain unchanged, an exciting finish is on the cards on the final day. Bangladesh, holding a 10-run lead going into their second innings, reached 177 for 3 by stumps on day four, stretching their overall lead to 187 runs. The third session saw visible signs of deterioration, with dust coming off the surface and the batters facing significant challenges. Despite the tougher conditions, half-centuries from Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto helped put Bangladesh in a strong position. The pair added 68 runs for the third wicket, after which Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim began building another significant partnership, putting on an unbeaten 49 runs for the fourth wicket. Shanto remained not out on 56, while Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 20. Earlier in the innings, opener Anamul Haque Bijoy once again failed to deliver, scoring just 4 off 14 balls after a duck in the first innings. His fellow opener, Shadman, added 36 runs with Mominul Haque for the second wicket. Mominul, like in the first innings, got settled before throwing his wicket away with a sweep shot, managing 14 off 40 deliveries. Shadman, who looked in good touch, reached his sixth Test fifty and went on to score 76 off 126 balls with seven boundaries before getting out. Shanto continued the momentum and brought up his sixth Test half-century as well. Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Prabath Jayasuriya, Tarindu Ratnayake, and Milan Ratnayake claimed one wicket each. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka were firmly in the lead and looked poised to overtake Bangladesh's first-innings total with ease. Resuming the morning session on 465 for 6, with Kamindu Mendis and Milan Ratnayake at the crease, they reached the break with their advantage intact. However, a post-lunch collapse saw them lose their last four wickets for just 20 runs, getting bowled out for 485falling short by 10 runs. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was the star for Bangladesh, picking up five wickets.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
More time to prepare for Wimbledon: Sinner
Jannik Sinner leaves Halle after his second round defeat to prepare for Wimbledon. PHOTO: AFP World number one Jannik Sinner is looking forward to a bit of unexpected down-time after his second round loss at Halle, to better prepare for Wimbledon. The Italian defending champion went down 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to the 45th-ranked Kazakh Alexander Bublik in Thursday's second round in the German grasscourt Wimbledon warm-up. "I have to accept what happened. I'm now going to have a few days rest before Wimbledon, which are going to do me good" said Sinner. He now has 10 days between Thursday's loss and the start of his Wimbledon campaign, where he seeks to dethrone Carlos Alcaraz, his conqueror in a five-set epic French Open final at Roland Garros earlier this month. Halle in 2024 is the only grass court title Sinner has to his name. He made it to the semi-finals in Wimbledon two years ago. Last year he was beaten in the quarters. "Honestly a little break is going to do me good," the 23-year-old told Sky Italia. "I came here (to Halle), I gave it my all after the Roland Garros defeat, it wasn't easy," he added. "Despite everything I'm happy enough. "I've played two matches before Wimbledon, if there'd been more it would have been even better. "Now I've got to boost myself both mentally and physically, that takes a little time," but for Wimbledon, "everything will be fine". Sinner's loss to Alcaraz at the French Open was his first defeat in a Grand Slam final. Prior to that defeat Sinner also lost to Alcaraz in the Rome Open final just after returning from a three-month doping suspension following his Australian Open success. Zverev overcomes stomach bug to set up Halle semi-final with Medvedev Alexander Zverev's quest for a first grasscourt title took an unexpected turn at the Halle Open on Friday when the German second seed was forced to sprint from court to vomit mid-match before rallying to defeat Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-4 7-6(8). Second seed Zverev started the match on the front foot by breaking in the first game but as he was serving in the second, he requested a toilet break to throw up and bolted down the tunnel. Once he returned, Zverev struggled with the intensity at first and clearly looked unwell, bending over in exhaustion after points and gasping for breath after a marathon rally. "I felt fine before the match. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I felt really, really bad. I felt ill, went to throw up and then 15 minutes later I felt OK again," Zverev said. "I don't know what it was, I've never experienced that before. I hope I'll be fine in the next couple of hours when the adrenaline settles. After that I think it was a pretty good match." Although nowhere near 100%, Zverev held serve as he slowly drew on his reserves of energy, firing his first ace of the match on set point. The second set was an even contest as Cobolli relied on his movement to continue troubling Zverev, but the German eventually triumphed in a close tiebreak, finishing the match with 22 winners and 12 points at the net. The semi-final pits Zverev against Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, a familiar foe who holds a 12-7 head-to-head advantage and has won their last three meetings. "I think he's the guy that I played the most in my career. I'm looking forward to it," Zverev added. "A lot of things happened in the last 18 months. He's one of my toughest opponents in my career. It's going to be a great match and I'm really looking forward to facing him." Medvedev moved into the semi-finals with a 6-4 6-3 victory over American Alex Michelsen despite suffering a nosebleed in the second set which forced the 2021 Halle runner-up to take a medical timeout. However, the Russian served well to deny his opponent a single break point opportunity and wrapped up the contest in 85 minutes as he reached the last four without dropping a set, with the only thing causing problems being the shadows on the court. "The shadows on the court made the conditions quite difficult. It took some time to get used to it. It was then better in the second set," said Medvedev, who will return to the top 10 ahead of Wimbledon.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Record stand puts Bangladesh in command in first Sri Lanka Test
GALLE, SRI LANKA: A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership between captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim put Bangladesh in control at 292-3 on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. After a wobbly start at Galle, the pair stitched together 247 runs – the highest fourth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in Tests against Sri Lanka – steering the tourists to a commanding position at stumps. Having elected to bat first, Bangladesh were reeling at 45-3 when the duo came together. What followed was a gritty rescue act – a partnership built on sound temperament, clever shot selection and an unflinching resolve as they dug their team out of early trouble. Mushfiqur, the most capped Test player in Bangladesh history with 97 appearances, silenced his critics with a timely ton. The veteran, under the pump after a lean patch spanning 13 innings without a half-century, rolled back the years with a knock of poise and purpose. The 38-year-old has fond memories of Galle, having struck a monumental double hundred there in 2013, and once again turned tormentor-in-chief for the Sri Lankan bowlers. He did enjoy a slice of luck – a tough chance spilled by debutant Tharindu Rathnayake on 25 – but made it count, navigating a nervy passage in the 90s, before scampering a quick single to notch up his 12th Test hundred. Shanto, positive from the outset, kept the scoreboard ticking with deft footwork and a keen eye for the loose ball. He brought up his sixth Test century – and second against Sri Lanka – with a cheeky paddle sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya, marking his first ton since November 2023. Sri Lanka made early inroads with right-arm quick Asitha Fernando drawing first blood, removing opener Anamul Haque for a duck. Off-spinner Rathnayake, handed his Test cap on the back of a prolific domestic season, struck twice in quick succession. But once the Shanto-Mushfiqur duo got their eye in, it was one-way traffic. Sri Lanka also handed a debut to opening batter Lahiru Udara, another domestic heavyweight, while the hosts paused before the start of play to congratulate retiring stalwart Angelo Mathews. The 38-year-old Mathews, playing his 119th and final Test, will hang up his boots with over 8,000 runs, behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in Sri Lanka's all-time charts. Mathews speaking before the start, said he was 'extremely proud to have a wonderful journey, thankful for whoever was part of it'. 'Feeling quite special. Realising that I have played over 100 Tests', he added. 'Playing for the country was my dream, it has come true.' The match is the first in the new two-year World Test Championship cycle. The second Test begins in Colombo on June 25. Brief scores: Bangladesh: 292-3 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 136 not out, Mushfiqur Rahim 105 not out) Toss: Bangladesh
