najmul hossain shanto

Bangladesh cricket team captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has written his name in the history books. In the first Test match against Sri Lanka, played at Galle, he scored centuries in both innings of the match something that had never been done before by a Bangladeshi captain.

This performance not only gave his critics a strong reply, but also set a new national record in Test cricket for Bangladesh.

A Century in Both Innings

In the Galle Test, Shanto scored 148 runs in the first innings and followed it with an unbeaten 125 runs in the second innings.

He became the first-ever captain from Bangladesh to score centuries in both innings of a Test match. His amazing batting helped Bangladesh control the game.

  • 1st Innings: 148 runs from 279 balls (15 fours, 1 six)
  • 2nd Innings: 125* runs from 199 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes)

Bangladesh’s Big Total

With the help of Shanto’s 148 and another brilliant century by Mushfiqur Rahim (163 runs), Bangladesh scored a huge 495 runs in their first innings.

In the second innings, after Shanto’s unbeaten 125, Bangladesh declared the innings at 285/6, setting a target of 296 runs for Sri Lanka to win.

Match Heading for a Draw

Although Sri Lanka scored 485 runs in their first innings, thanks to a powerful 187-run innings by Pathum Nissanka, they didn’t get enough time to chase the target.

By the end of Day 5, only a few overs were left. It seemed the match would end in a draw, but Bangladesh walked away with major positives, especially Shanto’s form.

Shanto Breaks 12-Year-Old Record

Najmul Hossain Shanto’s combined 273 runs in this match is now the highest total by a Bangladeshi player in a single Test match.

He broke the previous record of Mushfiqur Rahim, who had scored 200 runs (in both innings combined) as captain against Sri Lanka at the same Galle ground in 2013.

Shanto’s Form Sends a Message

Shanto has been under criticism in the past for not being consistent. But this match showed his class, patience, and leadership.

Read More: Rishabh Pant One-Handed Six: A Historic Century in England

Scoring two centuries in a Test match is not easy, and doing it as a captain adds extra pressure. Shanto managed both with grace and focus.

This performance has surely shut down his critics and proven that he is ready to lead Bangladesh’s Test team into a brighter future.

Why This Matters

  • Shanto is now among a rare group of players to hit centuries in both innings of a Test match.
  • He is the first Bangladeshi captain to do so.
  • His 273-run total is now the highest match aggregate by a Bangladeshi in Tests.
  • It happened at Galle — the same place where past records were also set.

 Disclaimer: This article is based on match facts and reports available at the time of writing. Final stats may change as official updates are released.