SL vs BAN: Bangladesh eye rare away Test win, end Day 4 with 187 run-lead

Bangladesh finished Day 4 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka with a slight but significant advantage, reaching 177 for 3 at stumps in their second innings on Friday — stretching their lead to 187 runs on a wearing Galle pitch. The visitors, who eked out a narrow 10-run first-innings lead thanks to a spirited bowling fightback, batted with clear intent in their second outing, setting themselves up for a rare overseas Test win and crucial World Test Championship points. Opener Shadman Islam anchored the innings with a composed 76, forging valuable partnerships — 24 with Anamul Haque, 36 with Mominul Haque, and a decisive 68-run stand with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto that shifted momentum Bangladesh’s way. Shadman looked set for a century before Milan Rathnayake trapped him lbw, but by then the platform was solid. At close, skipper Shanto and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim — both centurions in the first innings — remained unbeaten, pushing the lead safely past 150 and blunting Sri Lanka’s hopes of a late breakthrough.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers dramatically turned the game in the morning session. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan bagged his fourth Test five-for, dismantling Sri Lanka’s lower order.

The hosts were well placed at 470 for 6 but collapsed to 485 — losing four wickets for just 15 runs — handing Bangladesh a surprise lead.

Nayeem’s biggest breakthrough came when he removed Kamindu Mendis for 87 with a delivery that bounced and turned sharply to find the edge. Hasan Mahmud’s controlled reverse swing added to Sri Lanka’s troubles as he picked up three wickets, maintaining pressure from the other end. Despite conceding the advantage, Kamindu Mendis backed Sri Lanka to fight back on the final day: “If we can bowl them out in the first session, we can chase that down… we have two sessions to do it.”

With seven wickets in handBangladesh eye rare away Test win after gritty Day 4 in Galle, Bangladesh will aim to stretch the lead beyond Sri Lanka’s reach and close out a rare and memorable win away from home.