Mohammad Salahuddin hails Mushfiqur Rahim’s marathon 163: time for a big score

Bangladesh continued their commanding performance against Sri Lanka in the first Test, finishing the second day at 484/9 on a batting-friendly pitch in Galle.

Mushfiqur Rahim played a marathon innings, scoring 163 runs over nearly nine hours and 350 balls, showcasing immense patience and skill. His partnership with Najmul Hossain Shanto was record-breaking, adding 264 runs before Shanto fell for 148.

Batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin lauded Rahim’s effort, stating, 'We were very impressed with the way Mushfiqur Rahim went about things. He had not scored a big one in a while but we knew it was just a matter of time before he scored a big one.'

Wicketkeeper Litton Das also contributed significantly with a brisk 90 off 123 deliveries, capitalizing on tired Sri Lankan bowlers and some loose fielding.

Sri Lanka’s Milan Rathnayake described the pitch as one of the 'flattest wickets we have seen in Galle,' which made bowling challenging and favored the batsmen.

This innings by Mushfiqur Rahim signals a return to form and sets the stage for Bangladesh to build on their dominance in the Test match.

Key stats:
- Mushfiqur Rahim: 163 runs, nearly 9 hours, 350 balls
- Najmul Hossain Shanto: 148 runs, 15 boundaries, 1 six
- Litton Das: 90 runs off 123 balls
- Bangladesh total: 484/9

The performance highlights Bangladesh’s growing strength in Test cricket and Mushfiqur’s resilience as a senior batsman.

Bangladesh dominated Sri Lanka in the first Test, with Mushfiqur Rahim scoring a marathon 163 runs over nearly nine hours. Batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin praised Rahim’s resilience, calling it time for a big score after a long wait, as Bangladesh finished at 484/9 on a flat Galle pitch.