Bangladesh set Sri Lanka 296 for victory in 1st Test after Shanto's feat

Bangladesh declared their second innings on 285-6, leaving Sri Lanka to chase 296 for a victory in the first cricket Test at Galle International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, however, had one and half-session to try for a victory on a pitch that offered still little in what was the final day of the game. 

The declaration came after a feat of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto who followed his first innings 148 with 125 not out. It was the second time for him to hit centuries in both innings of a Test, having done so against Afghanistan in 2023.

Overall he became the only 14th batter in the world cricket to hit centuries in both innings more than once.

Resuming the day at 177-4, with a lead of 187, Bangladesh started watchfully with Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim showing little intent to push for a victory.

Rain also hampered the Day's proceedings as the game was stopped for almost an hour.

But before the rain break, Bangladesh lost Mushfiqur Rahim on 49 when he tried for a quick single and trapped run out.

When the game resumed, Shanto took the charge of attacking the Sri Lanka bowlers but saw the departure of the batters like Liton Das and Jaker Ali Anik for single digit figures.

He raised his seventh Test ton off 190 balls, with reverse sweep past point for a single against Tharindu Rathnayake. By doing so, he also became the 16th captain to score two hundreds in a Test.

After completing his century, he went for wild attack and struck Rathnayake for three sixes in a row, taking the overall lead closer to 300.

Shanto remained not out on 199 ball-125 after smashing nine fours and three sixes.

Rathnayake was the most successful bowler for Sri Lanka in this innings with 3-102.