Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim Shine with Centuries in Galle Test

Historic Performances in Galle

Galle [Sri Lanka], June 17: After a lengthy wait for Test centuries, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim found themselves in the perfect situation to turn their fortunes around. While they might have preferred more favorable batting conditions in Sylhet or Chattogram, those chances had already passed.

On a challenging Galle pitch, the duo rose to the occasion on Tuesday, achieving centuries that were both significant and hard-fought, according to reports from ESPNcricinfo.

Before the first Test against Sri Lanka, Shanto noted that Galle typically provides the best batting conditions during the initial two days, after which spin bowlers tend to dominate. However, Bangladesh faced early difficulties, finding themselves at 45/3 on the first day, with crucial strikes from spinner Tharindu Rathnayake and seamer Asitha Fernando.

What followed was an impressive recovery, as Shanto and Mushfiqur formed a resilient partnership, amassing 247 runs for the fourth wicket. Both players ended the day unbeaten, with Shanto scoring 136 and Mushfiqur 105.

This marked Mushfiqur's 12th Test century and his first in 13 innings since August of the previous year, during which his highest score had been just 40 against Zimbabwe. Reflecting on his long-standing connection with the Galle International Stadium, he recalled his double century at the same venue twelve years ago, which was Bangladesh's first-ever in Test cricket.

“I believe I get a good wicket every time I play in Galle,” he stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

“I have observed that many other Tests here have provided ample assistance for spinners. We understood that one of us among the seven batters needed to take advantage of the first two days in Galle. If I recall correctly, I and (Mohammad) Ashraful batted the entire day here in 2013. I had the same plan this time; I was telling Shanto that we needed to bat the whole day,” he added.

This was also Mushfiqur's fourth Test century against Sri Lanka and his second on their home soil. He mentioned that he had discussed the characteristics of Sri Lankan pitches with the younger players in the squad.

“After Bangladesh, I enjoy playing in Sri Lanka the most,” Mushfiqur remarked, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“There is always a competitive wicket, whether it’s with the red or white ball. If you apply yourself here, you can succeed—whether as a batter, fast bowler, or spinner. I shared this with some of our young players who are making their Test debuts in Galle,” he added.

He expressed his fondness for playing in Galle, noting the need to adjust to the conditions as the ball ages. “It’s truly special to play here. I love batting in Galle,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that this innings tested him more than usual. Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva frequently adjusted the field and instructed his bowlers to try different angles and lengths, keeping Mushfiqur on his toes. He spent a tense 23 deliveries in the 90s before finally reaching his century in the 86th over.

“These runs are not easy to come by. I took a lot of time in the nineties, as they weren’t giving me any easy deliveries,” Mushfiqur said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“It demonstrates that they are a challenging side to score against. They made intelligent bowling changes and field placements. I trust my process when I bat with control. Typically, we see our opponents place a fielder deep after a couple of boundaries. Sri Lanka adjusts their fielding based on the conditions. You must bat patiently against them,” he added.

Mushfiqur credited effective strike rotation, particularly singles, as crucial in disrupting Sri Lanka's strategy. He also praised Shanto for his composed and commanding innings, highlighting how his younger teammate never allowed the bowlers a genuine chance to break through.

“I believe rotating the strike is vital—perhaps as important as hitting boundaries,” Mushfiqur stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

“Strike rotation creates problems for bowlers, especially when there’s a left-hander and a right-hander batting together. It’s essential to take singles, as the fielding side must constantly adjust their placements. This is why we train consistently to maintain our fitness,” he added.

“Shanto has been in excellent form for quite some time. He has a solid Test record and is a skilled batter. It was nothing out of the ordinary. I was genuinely impressed by his control today. He scored a hundred in Kandy a few years ago, but I felt this was the right approach. Playing a chanceless innings while being mostly in control will boost the confidence of the next batters,” he noted.

Looking forward, Mushfiqur stressed the importance of building on this strong foundation by batting deep into the second day, a chance Bangladesh must seize to establish a commanding position.

“It’s undoubtedly a satisfying achievement. No one wants to score fewer runs after representing their country for so many years,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“You can’t score runs in every match, but when you consistently do the right things, hopefully, the big scores will come soon. When they do, you must ensure to make them count. I’m not done yet. I will strive to maximize tomorrow,” he concluded.