Colombo, June 27, 2025 – Bangladesh finds itself on the verge of a humiliating innings defeat in the opening Test of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
At the close of day three, the tourists were reeling at 115 for six in their second innings, still trailing by 96 runs with only four wickets remaining. With Sri Lanka in complete command, it appears Day 4 may mark the end of this one-sided Test encounter.
The Bangladesh batting line-up crumbled yet again, with Anamul Haque falling cheaply early in the innings. Their second innings mirrored the struggles of the first, marked by a lack of resilience and repeated failures to build partnerships. Anamul and Mominul Haque have been woefully out of form throughout the Test series, and their inability to anchor the innings only deepened Bangladesh’s woes. The dismissals of dependable batsmen Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz further dented Bangladesh’s hopes of saving the Test.
Litton Das remains at the crease with only the lower order for company, facing the monumental task of steering Bangladesh toward parity. However, with the way Sri Lanka has dominated the proceedings so far, only a miracle can help the visitors avoid an innings defeat.
Earlier, Sri Lanka stamped their authority with the bat. Pathum Nissanka’s commanding 158 set the tone for a mammoth total. Despite early setbacks, the hosts built a solid foundation. Kusal Mendis contributed an aggressive 84, while Dinesh Chandimal also looked promising before falling short of a century. Their efforts helped Sri Lanka post a formidable 458 in their first innings, taking a commanding lead of 211 runs.
Bangladesh’s bowlers failed to exert sustained pressure as Sri Lanka batted with patience and precision. The home side’s performance reflected their superiority in all departments of the game.
With only one full day of play likely remaining, Bangladesh faces near-certain defeat unless the lower order stages an extraordinary resistance. The Test seems set to end in Sri Lanka’s favor, putting them 1-0 up in the series.