Mushfiqur Rahim's 163 puts Bangladesh in control of 1st cricket test against Sri Lanka

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Mushfiqur Rahim posted a masterful 163 Wednesday as Bangladesh piled up 484 for nine on a rain-curtailed Day 2 of the first cricket test against Sri Lanka.

Mushfiqur batted for more than eight hours and faced 350 deliveries in innings that blended stout defense with the occasional flourish.

In a post-tea spell Bangladesh lost five wickets for 26 runs, giving Sri Lanka some hope.

Bangladesh has beaten Sri Lanka just once in 26 previous test attempts but is now in prime position to add another victory after tallying its fourth-highest total against Sri Lanka.

On a pitch that’s expected to break up, Mushfiqur combined in two crucial partnerships that wrested the momentum away from the hosts.

The first was a record-breaking 264-run partnership with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was in sublime touch during his innings of 148. Shanto, though, fell against the run of play — lured into a false stroke by Asitha Fernando and holing out to mid-off, where Angelo Mathews took a sharp catch.

Undeterred, Mushfiqur forged another valuable stand — this time worth 149 runs — with Litton Das, whose shot-making added zip to the innings. However, both set batters were dismissed within nine deliveries just as they threatened to push Bangladesh past 500.

Sri Lanka resorted to bowling a negative line, peppering the leg-side and starving the batters of scoring opportunities. Das was duly dismissed trying to reverse sweep spinner Tharindu Rathnayake — a top edge ballooning to the wicketkeeper.

The old ball started reverse swinging and brought some late success for the hosts. Milan Rathnayake, the bustling right-arm seamer, picked up three wickets in a spell after the tea interval as Bangladesh lost five wickets for 26 runs — a collapse that gave Sri Lanka some hope.

“It’s a tough wicket for the bowlers, but I guess we did a decent job especially in the last hour where we got back into the game with quick strikes,” Rathnayake said. “We have a very strong batting lineup and hopefully we will get a lead.”

Fernando, fresh off a county stint with Glamorgan, returned three wickets as well. Though not operating at full speed following a recent illness, he showed why he’s Sri Lanka’s pace spearhead, mixing up sharp bouncers with pinpoint yorkers to good effect.

Tharindu Rathnayake, making his test debut, had three wickets to his name.

Despite Sri Lanka’s late rally, the day belonged to Mushfiqur, who revels in the conditions at Galle and has tallied 482 runs in four innings at the venue. Only Pakistan’s Younis Khan (497) and Australia’s Usman Khawaja (490) have scored more at the ground among visiting batters.

“Mushfiqur is someone who can genuinely inspire the team,” said Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh catching coach. "Even though he hasn’t been scoring runs in the last few matches, his work ethic, constant desire to improve and the character he consistently shows in the dressing room — these are all qualities you want from a senior player."

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Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim, left, congratulates Litton Das for scoring a fifty runs during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim plays a shot during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto signals for a decision review after he was given out during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das run between the wickets during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando, second left, celebrates the wicket of Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, right, leaves the ground after losing his wicket as Mushfiqur Rahim watches during the second day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court began hearing arguments Monday about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime-media magnate Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants, whose convictions under a national security law could land them in prison for life.

Lai, 78, is the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party. He was arrested in 2020 under the law imposed by Beijing following massive anti-government protests that rocked Hong Kong the year before.

In December, he was found guilty of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious articles.

His conviction raised concerns about the curtailing of press freedom in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

His case could also be a test for Beijing's diplomatic ties. The verdict drew criticism from foreign governments, including the U.S. and Britain. After the verdict, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had raised Lai’s case with China, said he felt “so badly.”

Lai, alongside other co-defendants involved in the case, appeared in court for the four-day mitigation hearings. The maximum penalty for their convictions is life imprisonment. Sentencing will come later.

The court Monday morning heard arguments concerning two activists’ sentences. Lawyers representing them suggested the starting points of their clients’ sentences should be 10 years and 10 to 15 years respectively, but they should receive reductions in part due to their assistance in the case.

Lai’s lawyer Robert Pang will deliver his arguments in the afternoon.

When Lai entered the courtroom, he pressed his palms together, an apparent gesture to express gratitude, and smiled at those sitting in the gallery. The media tycoon appeared to be in good spirits and greeted a convicted Apple Daily editor who was also sitting in the dock.

In August, his lawyers told the court that he suffered from heart palpitations. Hong Kong’s government said no abnormalities were found in a subsequent medical exam.

Prosecutor Anthony Chau said Lai’s health was stable. Chau said Lai had lost just 0.8 kg (about 1.8 pounds) over five years of detention, weighing 79.2 kg (about 175 pounds) when it was last measured this month. Lai is still considered obese as an Asian adult, Chau said. The obesity comment drew chuckling from some members sitting in the public gallery, and Lai also smiled in the dock.

Before sunrise, dozens of people had already lined up outside the court building to secure a seat in the public gallery. Retiree Simon Ng, a former Apple Daily reader, said he arrived and waited in line since Friday morning, hoping to see Lai.

“I want to let him know that he’s not alone," Ng said. “Many people support him."

Lai was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, in addition to one count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. Lai pleaded not guilty to all charges.

A conviction on the collusion charge under the security law results in a sentence ranging from three years in jail to life, depending on the offense’s nature and his role in it. The sedition charge under a separate, colonial-era law carries a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.

Three government-vetted judges wrote in their December verdict that Lai spearheaded the conspiracies and took issue with what they called his “constant invitation” to the United States to bring down the Chinese government with the excuse of helping Hong Kongers.

Lai’s lawyers admitted during the trial that he had called for foreign sanctions before the national security law took effect, but insisted he dropped these calls to comply with the law. They also argued on freedom of expression grounds.

But the judges said that Lai had never wavered in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party. After the enactment of the law, he intended to continue, though less explicitly, they said. They emphasized that Lai was not on trial for his political views.

Beijing has opposed what it called the smearing of Hong Kong's judiciary “by certain countries,” saying the judicial authorities perform duties according to the law.

Six ex-Apple Daily senior executives and two activists involved in Lai's case had entered guilty pleas, admitting that they had conspired with Lai and others to request foreign forces to impose sanctions, blockades or engage in other hostile activities.

The executives were publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung and editorial writers Fung Wai-kong and Yeung Ching-kee. Some of them, alongside the two activists Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, served as prosecution witnesses during the 156-day trial.

A guilty plea usually can lead to a sentence reduction. Under the security law, a reduced penalty may be granted to those who report on the offense committed by others.

Chan Pui man's husband, Chung Pui-kuen, a former top editor of Stand News who had been sentenced to 21 months in jail in a separate sedition case, was among those sitting in the public gallery.

After the verdict, Lai's daughter, Claire, said Lai would devote himself to God and his family rather than political activism if he were released.

Trump said after the verdict that he spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Lai and “asked to consider his release." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government has made it a priority to secure the release of Lai, a British citizen.

People line up behind the barricades to attend the hearing about the upcoming sentence for pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Correctional Services Department vehicles arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, ahead of a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime media magnate Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Members of foreign councils arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to attend a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Robert Pang, center, lawyer for pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai arrives to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, ahead of a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Teresa Lai, wife of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai arrives to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to attend a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

FILE- Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is escorted by Correctional Services officers to get on a prison van before appearing in a court in Hong Kong, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)