After a drawn first Test, Sri Lanka recovered magnificently to defeat Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs in the second Test at the SSC in Colombo, clinching the series 1-0. The hosts kicked off their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle on a high note with a strong all-round performance over four days.
The game started with Bangladesh winning the toss and deciding to bat. However, due to rain delays and poor batting performances, they only managed to score 247 in their first innings. Despite a 46 by Shadman Islam and brief appearances from the middle order, the visiting squad failed to capitalise. Sonal Dinusha, making her debut, took three wickets, while Asitha Fernando also claimed three.
Sri Lanka’s first innings with the bat was impressive to witness, with Pathum Nissanka scoring 158 off 254 balls, his second century of the series. He was ably assisted by Dinesh Chandimal (93), Kusal Mendis (84), and Kamindu Mendis (33), and led the hosts to a mammoth total of 458, taking a 211-run lead. For Bangladesh, Taijul Islam took five wickets.
Prabath Jayasuriya, who had gone wicketless in the first innings, bounced back on Day 4 with a clinical 5 for 56, shattering Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
Meanwhile, Tharindu Ratnayake and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva both took two wickets, as Bangladesh collapsed for 133 in 44.2 overs, losing their last four wickets in 28 minutes on the final morning. Nissanka’s outstanding performance throughout the series earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series accolades. He scored 369 runs in two Tests, including scores of 187 and 158.
Najmul Hossain Shanto steps down as Bangladesh Test captain
Notably, Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down as Bangladesh’s Test captain after the match, following recent losses across formats. Both sides will now move on to the white-ball leg of the tour, with three ODIs and three T20Is scheduled, starting Wednesday, July 2.
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