A morning session of high attrition saw momentum swing both ways as Bangladesh made early breakthroughs before Sri Lanka mounted a composed recovery, with Kamindu Mendis and Milan Rathnayake stitching together a vital partnership to keep the hosts firmly in the contest on day four of the Galle Test.
Resuming the day in pursuit of Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 495, Sri Lanka were rocked early as Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis fell in quick succession. However, Kamindu Mendis, displaying the temperament that has become his hallmark in recent months, anchored the innings with calm authority.
Mendis, unbeaten on 83 at lunch, found an ideal partner in Rathnayake, who overcame an early reprieve – a dropped chance by Taijul Islam – to settle in and contribute a gritty 38*. Their unbroken 79-run stand has not only helped Sri Lanka reduce the deficit to just 30 runs but also positioned them for a potential lead later in the day.
As the session wore on, Bangladesh began to look increasingly fatigued and short of ideas – perhaps a reflection of the pressure placed on their four-man bowling attack, already hampered by Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s illness. With the Galle pitch showing signs of flattening rather than deteriorating, the bowlers found little assistance, and the Sri Lankan pair capitalised with patient accumulation rather than aggression.
Despite a promising start to the morning, Bangladesh were left to rue missed opportunities, particularly the dropped catch that could have halted Sri Lanka’s rebuild. The visitors now face a crucial second session, with the match delicately poised. An early breakthrough after lunch could swing the balance back in their favour, but if Mendis pushes on to a hundred and Rathnayake builds on his start, Sri Lanka could find themselves in a commanding position by day’s end.
With the deficit nearly erased and a potential lead on the horizon, all eyes will be on the first hour after lunch. The next session could prove pivotal in shaping the outcome of this hard-fought Test.