SL vs BAN: Najmul Hossain Shanto becomes first Bangladesh captain to score centuries in both innings of a Test

Najmul Hossain Shanto on Saturday notched up a unique record when he became the first Bangladesh captain to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match. Shanto pulled off the feat with 148 in the 1st innings and 125 in the second innings in the 1st Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle.

Talking about the innings Shanto said that he did not know that he had achieved the feat. “I didn’t know that but feels very good to contribute for the team, so really happy. Great comeback after losing three wickets. The way Mushi bhai batted with me, it was brilliant,” he said at the post-match chat.

“Before the series, we didn’t have enough confidence. We had great preparation for this series and we showed a lot of character in this match. After we declared, the way Taijul and Nayeem bowled, really happy. In these conditions, the way Nayeem bowled in the first innings was brilliant. He didn’t have enough chances to play because of the combination but his work ethic is brilliant and he showed today how good he is,” he added.

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This was also the match where Angelo Mathews brought the curtain down on his red-ball career after more than 100 games for the hosts.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, the first Bangladesh captain to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match. Photo Credit: SLC#BANvSL | #BCB | #BangladeshCricket pic.twitter.com/pmG0EEy8v4 — Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) June 21, 2025

Shanto followed up his first-innings hundred with an unbeaten 125 in the second stanza after Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for 49, and Bangladesh declared on 285-6 to set Sri Lanka a steep victory target of 296 runs from 37 overs.

Sri Lanka lost a couple of quick wickets before Mathews, a veteran with more than 8,000 test runs to his name, held steadfast with the bat – albeit barely scoring any runs. In the end, Bangladesh called it a day with the score on 72-4 with five overs left.

Bangladesh had made Sri Lanka toil on the opening two days, amassing 495 runs in their first innings including 148 for Shanto and 163 for Rahim, with Litton Das (90) unlucky to miss out on a century of his own.

Bangladesh off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who had begun to extract turn and bounce on a pitch showing signs of wear on the fourth day, claimed 5-121 – his fourth five-wicket haul in tests – to ensure Sri Lanka could not build a lead of their own.

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The tourists then roared to 177-3 in their second innings at the end of the penultimate day for a healthy advantage, with Shadman Islam (76) giving them the chance to push for a rare overseas test victory and valuable World Test Championship points.

After showers late in the opening session on the fifth day wiped out 26 overs, Shanto reached his well-deserved hundred and asked Sri Lanka to bat again and attempt to chase down their big target at an asking rate of eight runs an over.

(With agency inputs)

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