Islamabad, June 20, 2025: Pathum Nissanka career-best knock of 187 put Sri Lanka in a solid position by the end of the third day of the opening Test against Bangladesh on Thursday, leaving them just 127 runs away from Bangladesh first-innings score of 495.
Nissanka built several crucial stands before being out by Hasan Mahmud late in the day. The right-hander, who was under scrutiny ahead of the game due to just one fifty in his previous nine innings, struck 23 boundaries and one maximum in a determined 256-ball effort. He appeared positive to score his first-ever Test double century before Mahmud, using the second new ball, bowled him.
“This is my first Test hundred at home so I was very happy to get there,” Pathum Nissanka shared after the close of play. However, Sri Lanka’s top scorer admitted he was “upset” when he got out. He accepted that he hadn’t score a big number since his hundred in England the previous year and said he was “trying to make today count”.
READ MORE: Sri Lanka’s Ashen Bandara Arrested for Alleged Assault
Kamindu Mendis (37) and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (17) are set to resume the innings on the fourth day, with the Galle surface still favorable for batting.
Alongside Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, and Mominul Haque each picked up a wicket during a largely quiet period for Bangladesh’s bowling attack.
READ MORE: Mushfiqur Rahim Creates History with Galle Test Century
Earlier in the day, Nissanka’s opening partner Lahiru Udara (29) fell to Taijul Islam’s left-arm spin. Dinesh Chandimal added a steady 54 runs before being removed by Hasan following a vital 157-run stand with Nissanka.
Veteran Angelo Mathews, playing his farewell Test and welcomed with a guard of honor by the visitors, chipped in with 39 valuable runs, taking Sri Lanka to 293 before being dismissed by Haque.
At the start of the day, Sri Lanka swiftly ended Bangladesh’s innings within three overs, wrapping it up after their overnight score of 484-9.
