GALLE, Sri Lanka — Bangladesh missed out on a rare victory away from home when its series-opening cricket test against Sri Lanka ended in a draw on the rain-affected final day Saturday.
After a prolonged rain break that saw the morning session curtailed to just 80 minutes, there was a window — 50 overs — still wide enough to force the issue. The visitors led by 251 runs. The stage was set. But they opted for the conservative route.
Najmul Hossain Shanto pressed on to complete his second century of the match — a personal milestone for the captain, but a potentially costly one for the team.
By the time the declaration came at 285-6, Bangladesh had consumed nearly an hour more of precious time — and momentum.
Shanto's feat was historic. Only 14 other men in the long annals of test cricket have scored hundreds in each innings on two separate occasions. Shanto previously achieved the double-ton trick against Afghanistan in 2023.
Bangladesh, chasing only its second test win over Sri Lanka in 27 attempts, may rue this as the one that got away. The hosts had their backs to the wall for just over a session and while they lost wickets and had to negotiate some sharp turn and bounce, they were never truly cornered.
Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan removed first-innings centurion Pathum Nissanka with a peach that dipped and turned. Taijul Islam chimed in with a tidy burst, accounting for Lahiru Udara, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal.
''We wanted to declare early but rain forced us to rethink,'' Shanto said. ''Taijul bowled really well and so did Nayeem. He hasn't had enough chances in the big stage, but he showed what a good bowler he is.''