GALLE: Pathum Nissanka´s career-best 187 helped Sri Lanka finish the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh in a strong position Thursday, only 127 runs off the Tigers´ first innings score.
The 27-year-old opener anchored the Sri Lanka innings before they finished on 368-4 at the close of play, behind Bangladesh´s 495. He struck several key partnerships before he was bowled by Hasan Mahmud towards the end of the day´s play.
Nissanka, who had been under pressure before the match with only one half-century in nine innings, hit 23 fours and a six in his marathon 256-ball innings. Nissanka looked set for his maiden double-ton when he was bowled by Mahmud, who was bowling with the second new ball.
“This is my first Test hundred at home so I was very happy to get there,” Nissanka said after the day´s play. “It is important that we get a decent lead and put them under pressure.” But Sri Lanka´s top-scorer said he was “disappointed” with the way he got out. He acknowledged he had failed to score big since his century in England last year and said that he was “trying to make the most of today”.
Kamindu Mendis (37) and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (17) will take charge of Sri Lanka´s first innings on the fourth day, with the Galle wicket still playing well for the batters. Besides Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan and Mominul Haque finished the third day with one wicket each in a largely uneventful session for Bangladesh´s bowlers.
Nissanka lost his opening partner Lahiru Udara (29) early in the day to the slow left-arm orthodox bowling of Islam. Dinesh Chandimal came in and took a solid 54 runs before he was removed by Hasan after an important 157-run partnership with Nissanka.
Veteran Angelo Matthews, walking out to bat in his farewell Test with a guard of honour from the opposition, hit 39 runs in a key cameo that took the hosts to 293 before he fell to Haque. Earlier, the third day started with Sri Lanka wrapping up Bangladesh´s innings in just three overs after their overnight score of 484-9.
