With the first Test ending in a stalemate, all eyes now turn to Colombo, where the decisive second-and-final Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh begins on Wednesday. Bangladesh appeared in full control in Galle, posting 495 and restricting Sri Lanka to 485 in the first innings. In the second innings, Bangladesh scored 285/6d, with Najmul Hossain Shanto scoring 125 unbeaten. Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 296, managed 72/4. Heading into the second Test, momentum is finely balanced, and both teams would eye a major win.
Sri Lanka will make a change to their batting lineup as Angelo Mathews retired from the longest format following the first Test. Mathews, who made his Test debut in Galle, decided to call time on his Test career in Galle. Fast bowler Milan Rathnayake has been ruled out of the second Test after suffering a left-side strain during the Galle Test. In the absence of Mathews and Milan, Sri Lanka have included pacer Vishwa Fernando and Dunith Wellalage in the squad.
The series remains evenly poised, and both sides have demonstrated resilience and temperament. For Sri Lanka, it’s a chance to salvage home advantage, while for Bangladesh, it’s an opportunity to seal a rare away result after the hard-fought draw in the opener.
Head-to-head
Matches - 27
SL won - 20
BAN won - 1
Drawn - 6
Sri Lanka probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Oshada Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Tharindu Ratnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Dunith Wellalage
Bangladesh probable XI: Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Jaker Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana