Photo: Cricinfo

DHAKA, June 19, 2025 (BSS)- Opener Pathum Nissanka struck a blazing ton as Sri Lanka thwarted Bangladesh's attack to put them in a position of dominance on Day 3 of the first cricket Test at Galle International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka today.

Nissank struck his career-best 187, steering Sri Lanka to 368-4, still 127 runs adrift of Bangladesh's 495 all out in first innings at stumps.
Pacer Hasan Mahmud gave Bangladesh some respite, denying Nissanka his maiden double century after taking the second new ball.

But Kamindu Mendis and skipper Dhanajaya de Silva saw off the day without further trouble, keeping Sri Lanka on course of taking the crucial first innings lead.

Mendis who averaged 60 plus in Test cricket was batting on 37 with de Silva on 17 when the bails were drawn.

Dinesh Chandimal was the other notable scorer with 54 while Angelo Mathews added 39.

After bowling out Bangladesh in the third over of the day, Sri Lanka made a fluent start, knowing that attacking cricket is the only way to derive a result from this surface.

Debutant Lahiru Udara who opened with Nissanka was solid in his approach right from beginning as he came down heavily on Bangladesh bowlers.

He was particularly harsh on Nahid Rana, whose pace made little impact in this pitch. Another pacer Hasan Mahmud though bowled in a good channel, failed to give the side any breakthrough.
 
Taijul's introduction curbed the Sri Lanka batters' aggression to some extent as he varied his pace well to give the batters some discomfort.
His relentless attack gave Bangladesh a success when Udara who hit six fours in his 34 ball-29 was undone by a tossed up delivery.

But Nissanka found able support in Chandimal as the duo played with caution and aggression to tame Bangladesh bowling.

Nissanka raised his third Test century off just 136 balls, pulling Nahid Rana for a single.

Nayeem Hasan broke the partnership, baffling Chandimal with a quicker delivery. In his next over, Nayeem could have dismissed Nissanka on 117 as he edged a delivery to wicket-keeper Liton Das who failed to gobble the catch.
With Mathews playing with unflinching resolve in what is his last Test, Nissanka got another support in driving the side to safety.

Bangladesh got the wicket again from nowhere when part time bowler Mominul Haqque got the better of Mathews who edged a delivery behind, trying to defend it.
 
His dismissal brought an end to the 89-run partnership between him and Nissanka.

Amid the wickets tumbling around him, Nissanka was firmly on his way to the double century but the second new ball did the trick for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh though took the second new ball five overs after it was available, Hasan Mahmud made a good use of it by rattling the stump of Nissanka to bring an end to his epic 256 ball-187, that included 23 fours and one six.

Earlier, Bangladesh resumed on 484-9 and were able to add just 11 runs before being all out for 495. Pacer Asitha Fernando claimed the wicket of Nahid Rana in the third over of the day to wrap up Bangladesh's innings.

Fernando finished with 4-86, highest for Sri Lanka in this innings, while his new ball partner Milan Rathnayake who tormented Bangladesh with reverse swing in later afternoon session on Day 2, returned figures of 3-39.

Debutant Tharindu Rathnayake also ended with 3-196.

Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim was the top-scorer for Bangladesh with 163 while Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made 148. Liton Das added 90.