Najmul Hossain Shanto becomes first Bangladesh batter to achieve this historic record with another twin centuries in 1st Test vs Sri Lanka

Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, achieved a remarkable feat in the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium, etching his name into the record books. His outstanding batting performance saw him become the first Bangladeshi Test captain to score a century in both innings of a single Test match.

The skipper began his stellar performance with a magnificent knock of 148 runs in the first innings. This contribution helped the visiting Bangladeshi team reach a substantial total of 495 runs. Sri Lanka responded strongly in their first innings, posting 485 runs. As the final day progressed, particularly by the second session, it became evident that the match was heading towards a draw.

Facing Sri Lanka's first-innings score of 485, Bangladesh encountered an early wobble in their second innings, losing Anamul Haque and Mominul Haque cheaply in quick succession. However, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shadman Islam provided stability with a crucial 68-run partnership for the third wicket. Shadman was eventually dismissed after scoring 76, but Shanto remained resolute, ending the innings unbeaten on 125 off 199 balls. Following this, Bangladesh declared their innings, setting Sri Lanka a target of 296 runs to win.

Shanto's achievement of scoring centuries in both innings of the match marks a significant milestone, making him the first Bangladesh Test captain to do so. Notably, this is also the second instance in his career where he has accomplished the feat of scoring twin centuries in a Test match. Furthermore, Shanto also holds the distinction of being the first Bangladeshi batter to record hundreds in both innings of an away Test match. While Mominul Haque and Shanto himself had previously achieved twin centuries in home Tests against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, respectively, this performance in Sri Lanka adds a new dimension to his record.

Bangladesh batters to score a ton in both Innings of a Test:

Najmul Hossain Shanto's record-breaking performance extended beyond just scoring twin centuries in the match. He also achieved the highest aggregate of runs by a Bangladesh Test captain in a single match, amassing a total of 273 runs across both innings. This surpassed the previous record of 200 runs held by Mushfiqur Rahim, a milestone also reached against Sri Lanka at the same Galle International Stadium in 2013.

Shanto's remarkable achievement of scoring twin centuries arrived at a significant juncture in his career. Amidst doubts surrounding his leadership and Bangladesh's performance in away matches, his composed and resilient batting under pressure served as a morale booster for the team and provided Bangladesh fans with a moment of great celebration.

In contrast to Shanto's record-breaking performance, the match also marks the farewell Test for veteran Sri Lankan player Angelo Mathews. While Sri Lanka would undoubtedly be hoping to give him a memorable send-off, the current trajectory of the match suggests that a draw is the most probable outcome. At the time of this report, Sri Lanka found themselves at 34 for 2 after 8 overs in their second innings.

Earlier in their second innings, Sri Lanka faced early setbacks, losing opener Lahiru Udara for 8, dismissed by Taijul Islam. Subsequently, Nayeem Hasan struck in the following over, removing Pathum Nissanka who had scored 24 off 25 balls. The host team now faced the challenge of navigating the final session to secure a draw and avoid a potential defeat, which they comprehensively did eventually.