The gap between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is around 200.

The gap between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is around 200.

Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim (R) and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto run between the wickets during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on 20 June, 2025.AFP

On day four of the first Test in Galle on Friday, Bangladesh narrowly defeated Sri Lanka, increasing their lead to 187 runs with seven wickets remaining.

After a solid 68-run partnership between opener Shadman Islam and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, the visitors ended up at 177-3.

Shadman was knocked for 76 by all-rounder Milan Rathnayake, but experienced batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who had just scored a century in the first innings, joined his captain to steady the innings.

To put their team ahead going into the last day, the pair put on an uninterrupted 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket. 

Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on 20 June, 2025.

AFP

 

The visitors were dismissed for 485 after lunch, trailing by 10 runs, after Bangladesh's off-spinner Nayeem Hasan had earlier taken five wickets to halt Sri Lanka's first-innings surge.

As Nayeem concluded with 3-74, Hasan Mahmud provided strong support.

With Kamindu Mendis and Rathnayake putting up a tough 84-run partnership for the seventh wicket, Sri Lanka appeared to be headed for a significant lead at 465-6 at the close of the first session.

But with a collapse in the lower order, losing their final four wickets for 15 runs, Sri Lanka gave up the momentum.

Sri Lanka's Milan Rathnayake (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Bangladesh's Shadman Islam during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on 20 June, 2025. AFP

 

For his 39, Rathnayake shown admirable tenacity, but he was defeated by an inside edge onto the stumps off Mahmud.

When the ball bounced off the surface and caught the left-hander off guard, Kamindu fell to Nayeem's off-spin in the following over, leaving Sri Lanka's score unaltered.

He hit eight fours and a six in his controlled 87, but he was out of reach of a third-century against Bangladesh.

As Sri Lanka lost three wickets for only one run in ten deliveries, Nayeem then got rid of debutant Tharindu Rathnayake for a duck with another quick off-break that went through the gate. 

 

Bangladesh's Shadman Islam plays a shot during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on 20 June, 2025.AFP

 

Then, to end Sri Lanka's innings, he dismissed Asitha Fernando (4).

The same two teams last drew a Test match at the Galle cricket ground in 2013.

Short scores:

First innings of Bangladesh: 495 all out (Asitha Fernando 4-86, Najmul Hossain Shanto 148, Mushfiqur Rahim 163)

First innings of Sri Lanka: 485 all out (Hasan Mahmud 3-74, Nayeem Hasan 5-121, Dinesh Chandimal 54, Kamindu Mendis 87, and Pathum Nissanka 187).

Bangladesh: 177-3 in the second innings (Najmul Hossain Shanto 56, Shadman Islam 76).

Toss: Bangladesh 

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