Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Test: Man with snake, monkey takes spotlight

Dubai: An unusual visitor added a touch of intrigue on the final day of the Test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Galle International Stadium — a snake charmer. The man was calmly seated on the ground with two snakes and a monkey, casually enjoying the cricketing drama unfold.

The man with his unusual friends gained spotlight several times in the day with the camera repeatedly focusing on him.

The first Test ended in a tense draw, but it was anything but dull. Sri Lanka, set a challenging target of 296 in just 37 overs, opted for survival over ambition. They closed the day at 72/4, withstanding a fierce spin attack from Taijul Islam, who claimed 3 for 23, including the key wickets of Angelo Mathews—playing his final Test—and Dinesh Chandimal.

The final day saw Bangladesh pushing hard for victory, but a rain interruption after lunch disrupted their momentum. Instead of declaring immediately, they resumed their innings after a two-and-a-half-hour delay. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was on 96, went on to complete his second century of the match before Bangladesh declared at 285/6. However, the delay cost them valuable overs, leaving only 37 to bowl at Sri Lanka instead of a potential 50.

Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 495 had set the tone, powered by a monumental 247-run partnership between Shanto (148) and Mushfiqur Rahim (163). Sri Lanka responded in kind, posting 485 on the back of a career-best 187 from Pathum Nissanka. Nayeem Hasan led the bowling effort with a five-wicket haul.

Despite the match ending in a draw, it was a gripping contest filled with momentum shifts, late drama, and a memorable farewell for Mathews. Both sides walked away with positives, setting the stage for an exciting series ahead.