Can Pathum Nissanka's Masterclass of 187 Propel Sri Lanka to Victory?

Galle, June 19 (NationPress) With solid partnerships fortifying their innings, the Sri Lankan team concluded the day just 127 runs behind, effectively taking charge of the match after Bangladesh had set a strong first-innings total of 495 at Galle International Ground on Thursday.

Pathum Nissanka spearheaded the effort with an impressive 187 – marking his highest Test score and his inaugural century on home turf – as Sri Lanka wrapped up the day at 368/4 in 92 overs.

Nissanka's performance was a blend of poise and aggression, spanning 256 balls and showcasing commanding strokeplay. From the outset, he exuded confidence, overpowering the Bangladeshi bowlers throughout the new ball phase.

His innings set the stage for several partnerships that chipped away at the deficit: 47 runs with debutant Lahiru Udara, 157 with Dinesh Chandimal, 89 with Angelo Mathews, and 38 with Kamindu Mendis.

The only relief for Bangladesh came late in the day when the second new ball, aided by reverse swing and seam movement, breached Nissanka's defenses. Hasan Mahmud bowled a sharp in-ducker that slipped between bat and pad, dismissing the Sri Lankan opener and potentially thwarting his chance for a maiden Test double century.

Prior to that, Sri Lanka made batting appear effortless, especially in contrast to Bangladesh's more cautious approach during the first two days. While the visitors managed just over three runs an over, the hosts maintained a brisk scoring rate of around four, consistently applying pressure on the Bangladeshi bowlers.

Chandimal, who has a strong affinity for the Galle pitch, contributed a steady 54 runs before falling to a well-executed leg-slip trap by Nayeem Hasan. Mathews appeared solid before Mominul Haque, briefly introduced, produced a delivery that turned sharply, catching the edge. Udara also impressed on debut with a fluent 29 before being caught and bowled by Taijul Islam.

At the end of the day, Dhananjaya de Silva (17*) and Kamindu Mendis (37*) were looking comfortable at the crease, having formed an unbeaten partnership of 37 runs off 45 balls. Their fluid partnership maintained pressure on Bangladesh and emphasized Sri Lanka's aggressive approach.

The Bangladesh bowling unit, on the other hand, struggled with consistency. Although four bowlers—Mahmud, Taijul, Nayeem, and Mominul—each took a wicket, three of the five bowlers went for over four runs per over, reflecting their inability to contain the Sri Lankan batters for extended periods.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh was dismissed for 495 in under 15 minutes, with Asitha Fernando claiming the final wicket and finishing with figures of 4 for 86.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 495 all out in 153.4 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 163, Najmul Hossain Shanto 148; Asitha Fernando 4/86, Milan Rathnayake 3-39) lead Sri Lanka 368/4 in 93 overs (Pathum Nissanka 187, Dinesh Chandimal 54; Monimul Haque 1/24, Hasan Mahmud 1/49) by 127 runs.