Galle Test Drawn as Rain, Nissanka Shine

The first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Galle ended in a rain-affected draw, with Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scoring centuries in both innings and Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka contributing a career-best 187. A delayed declaration by Bangladesh after a lengthy rain break left too few overs to push for victory, despite a late spin surge by Taijul Islam and an emotional farewell for retiring Angelo Mathews. Both teams now prepare for the second Test in Colombo, where rain is forecast and Sri Lanka will look to fill gaps left by injured Milan Rathnayake and Mathews' retirement with players like Vishwa Fernando and Dunith Wellalage. Bangladesh will rely on strong form from Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das as they seek their first Test series win over Sri Lanka. The series is important for both sides as it marks the start of the new World Test Championship cycle. The Galle match also featured unique crowd moments, including a snake charmer, adding color to the contest.