Mushfiqur Rahim turned back the clock with a vintage hundred in Galle, anchoring Bangladesh’s innings on Day 1 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. The seasoned campaigner struck his 12th Test century, and fourth against Sri Lanka, guiding the visitors out of early trouble with a sublime display of temperament and technique.
Rahim’s ton was more than just a personal milestone — it was a knock of serious match impact. Coming in after Bangladesh were rocked at 45/3 in the opening session, Rahim joined forces with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto to resurrect the innings. The duo stitched together a stunning 200-plus stand, with both players reaching their respective hundreds in the final session to push Bangladesh well past the 250-run mark.
Landmark Moment
Rahim's landmark moment also came with history. During his brilliant innings, he surpassed Mohammad Ashraful’s tally to become Bangladesh’s highest Test run-scorer on Sri Lankan soil, taking his total to over 785 runs in 15 innings at an average above 68. This includes two centuries and four fifties, with his first ton in the Island nation being that iconic double-century at Galle back in 2013.
This innings also boosted Rahim’s overall Test numbers. He now has over 6,150 runs in 97 Tests, averaging 37-plus with 12 hundreds and 27 fifties — the most Test runs by any Bangladesh batter. Only Mominul Haque (13) has more Test centuries than him in Bangladesh’s history.
Historic Partnership
Rahim’s excellence, paired with Shanto’s leadership, saw them become only the third Bangladesh pair to register a double-century stand in Sri Lanka, joining the elite club alongside Ashraful-Rahim (267 in 2013) and Mominul-Shanto (242 in 2021) — both also at Galle.
