Sri Lanka respond strongly through Nissanka century

Friday, 20 June 2025 00:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pathum Nissanka celebrates his first Test hundred on home soil

Pathum Nissanka and debutant Lahiru Udara were the first right-hand opening pair for Sri Lanka in 29 years

Dinesh Chandimal helped Pathum Nissanka add 157 for the second wicket

Angelo Mathews acknowledges the crowd after being dismissed for 39

Have a lot to play for trailing by only 126 runs with 6 wickets in hand

Pathum Nissanka scored his first Test hundred at home, a career best 187 as Sri Lanka responding strongly to Bangladesh’s first innings score of 495 ended the third day of the first cricket Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday on 368-4, to trail by 126 runs with 6 wickets in hand.

Thanks to the batting tempo set by Sri Lanka, the draw is still quite far away. Sri Lanka didn’t waste a lot of time in removing the last Bangladeshi wicket with Asitha Fernando ending the innings for figures of 4/86. The openers Nissanka and his new partner debutant Lahiru Udara got them off to a positive start. Udara began shakily but recovered to stroke some sublime boundaries. But the introduction of spin saw him exit. Taijul Islam got some drift and caused an error from the right-hander when he popped an easy return catch with his score on 29. It was the first time in 29 years that two right-handers had opened for Sri Lanka, the last occasion being Roshan Mahanama and Chandika Hathurusingha against Australia in the infamous Melbourne Boxing Day Test of 1995.

Nissanka wasn’t as quick as his opening partner but as he found his touch, he started to score at a good tempo picking the lengths early and using the pace from the fast bowlers to his advantage with assured footwork. Dinesh Chandimal gave him good company as the duo stitched a 157-run stand for the second wicket. While Nissanka notched up his first Test ton at home off 106 balls (13 fours, 1 six), the second fifty coming off 48 balls, Chandimal couldn’t convert his 33rd Test fifty into a big one as he perished to the leg-stump trap falling for 54 off 119 balls (4 fours).

Angelo Mathews playing his final Test was given a guard of honour by the Bangladeshi players. After a few plays-and-misses, he looked in pretty good touch and was involved in an 89-run stand with Nissanka. Mominul Haque however broke that partnership as he nipped out the veteran for 39 with a beautiful delivery which he edged to the wicket-keeper.

As soon as Bangladesh took the second new-ball in the 86th over, Hasan Mahmud cleaned up the well-set Nissanka for 187 with an inswinger depriving him of a well-deserved double hundred. Nissanka batted for 352 minutes and hit 23 fours and a six off 256 balls in scoring his third Test century. During his innings, Nissanka passed 1,000 runs playing in his 17th Test.

Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva ensured no further setbacks, and in the process, scored 37 runs off 45 balls. With six wickets in hand and the pitch still being docile, Sri Lanka will be confident of getting a sizeable lead to put the pressure back on Bangladesh on the final day.

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