Bangladesh veteran Mushfiqur Rahim and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto scored unbeaten tons, helping the Tigers recover after a slump to finish on a high note on Day 1 of their first of two Tests against hosts Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium today.
Mushfiqur notched his 12th Test ton, and his first in 14 innings, while Shanto completed his sixth Test ton as the duo stitched together a 247-run fourth-wicket stand — Bangladesh’s highest for the wicket against Sri Lanka. The mammoth partnership helped Bangladesh recover from 45 for three in 16.1 overs and finish the day on 292 for three in 90 overs.
This was also Mushfiqur’s third ton against the Island nation. He also has a double ton against Sri Lanka at this very venue, which came back in 2013.
Mushfiqur, who looked a bit nervous when the right-hander was in the 90s, got to the three-figure mark off 176 deliveries, having smashed just five boundaries. His ton came after skipper Shanto also reached the three-figure mark, his second ton against Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the century saw Mushfiqur end a lengthy lean patch in the format, with his last ton coming against Pakistan in Rawalpindi last year when the batter scored 191. Since then, Mushfiqur’s highest has been a 40-run knock, against Zimbabwe in the Tigers’ last Test in Chattogram in April this year.
