Sri Lanka strike back after tea in first Test

Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto hammered authoritative centuries as Bangladesh piled on the runs in the first Test against Sri Lanka, finishing day two on a commanding 484 for nine, despite a few late breakthroughs by the hosts at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

- REX CLEMENTINE IN GALLE

The tourists resumed on their overnight score of 292 for three and turned the screws on a wilting Sri Lankan attack on a docile surface tailor-made for batting, with their fourth-wicket pair grinding the bowlers into submission in a record stand.

Shanto, elegant and unflustered, reached a majestic 148 before falling against the run of play - deceived in the air and driving early, only to be spectacularly plucked out of thin air by Angelo Mathews diving full-stretch at mid-off. That dismissal broke a monumental 264-run partnership with Mushfiqur, a stand that turned the tide after Bangladesh had slumped to 45 for three in the opening session on Tuesday.