Nissanka’s career-best 187 takes Sri Lanka to 368-4 in reply to Bangladesh’s 495 in Galle test

By Canadian Press on June 19, 2025.

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — A career-best 187 by the stylish Pathum Nissanka led Sri Lanka to 368-4 in its first innings on the third day of the opening test against Bangladesh on Thursday.

That left the home team 127 runs adrift of Bangladesh, who had piled up a total of 495 all out.

On a featherbed surface, Nissanka produced an innings of sublime timing and poise, the sort that makes connoisseurs purr and opponents wince.

Nissanka, whose two previous test hundreds had come overseas, finally notched his maiden century on home soil.

A double hundred looked not just probable, but inevitable. Alas, as it so often does in cricket, the second new ball brought about his downfall.

A touch too eager to assert, Nissanka offered a drive too early, left a gap between bat and pad, and was clean bowled by Hasan Mahmud.

Debutant Lahiru Udara, also looking assured during a brisk 29 off 34 balls, peppered the boundary with six well-timed fours before offering a return catch to Taijul Islam off a leading edge.

Dinesh Chandimal then stitched together a 157-run stand for the second wicket with Nissanka, his 54 oozing class until a faint tickle down the leg side ended his stay.

Angelo Mathews, in his final test, appeared in decent touch during a fluent 39 before falling to Mominul Haque, the part-time spinner luring an edge to the keeper.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva (17 not out) and the versatile Kamindu Mendis (37 not out) then took Sri Lanka to the close of play with an unbroken 37-run partnership.

With more batting depth to come and time on their side – should the weather hold – Sri Lanka will fancy their chances of claiming a first-innings lead.

Earlier, Sri Lanka wrapped up the Bangladesh innings inside 15 minutes with Asitha Fernando taking 4-86.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Associated Press