SL vs BAN 2025, 1st Test, Day 4 Review: Nayeem Hasan, Shadman Islam star for Bangladesh but draw looks imminent

On Friday, June 20, Bangladesh almost batted themselves into a position from which they can't lose the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium.

Day 4 began with Sri Lanka trailing Bangladesh's first-innings score by 127 runs, with six wickets in hand. Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva added just nine runs to the overnight score of 368/4 as Nayeem Hasan dismissed the Sri Lankan captain.

Kusal Mendis tried to give himself some time at the crease, but his knock was cut short by Hasan Mahmud in an unfortunate manner. The wicketkeeper became the third Sri Lankan batter to be caught down the leg-side.

Milan Rathnayake joined forces with Kamindu, and they mixed caution with aggression to slowly but surely eat away the deficit. However, Mahmud returned once again to break the 84-run partnership. The right-arm pacer bowled a back-of-a-length delivery outside off-stump to Rathnayake, who was batting on 39. The all-rounder went for a pull, but all he managed to do was deflect the ball onto the stumps via an inside-edge.

Wickets kept tumbling from this point. From 470/6, the hosts were bowled out for 485, handing Bangladesh a slender 10-run lead. Nayeem starred with the ball, finishing with figures of 5/121 in 43.2 overs. Meanwhile, Mahmud bagged a three-for.

Bangladesh, in their second innings, added 24 runs before losing their first wicket. Anamul Haque was dismissed for four runs, adding to his duck in the first innings. Mominul Haque showed a lot of patience during his 40-ball knock of 14 runs but fell victim to debutant Tharindu Ratnayake.

However, Shadman Islam played a brilliant knock, scoring 76 off 126 balls. He added a 68-run partnership with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. After Shadman was dismissed LBW to Milan Rathnayake, Mushfiqur Rahim forged an unbeaten 49-run stand with Shanto to take Bangladesh to 177/3 at Stumps on Day 4. The latter remained unbeaten on 56 after facing 113 balls.

The tourists have taken a 187-run second innings lead. If they manage to bat at least the first session on Day 5, the possibility of a Bangladesh defeat in the first Test will be all but wiped out.