Bhathiya Barukanda
Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka let all hell loose living to his true potential as abatsman for the moment and a game stayer to pulverizing the Bangladesh attack to a career best exhilarating 187 clobbering off 256 balls decked with 23 boundaries and a sixe in near enacting his ODI double century exploits as Sri Lanka traded shot for shot in closing on a first innings score of 368 for 4 wickets and trailing by 127 runs in reply to the visitors mammoth 495 on a challengingly decisive third day of the first test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium when veteran batsman Angelo Mathews too fired briefly for 39 off 69 sending one to the stands and 3 to the ropes before exiting with a yawn when he played at a flighted Maimul Haque delivery and was beaten with the flight the ball ending in wicket-keeper Litton Das’ gloves.
It was all Sri Lanka the Pathum Nissanka show after Bangladesh lasted just 11 runs from an overnight 484 for 9 when quick Asitha Fernando had Nahid Rana for a duck caught behind by Kusal Mendis.
The 27-year old Nissanka produced the type of breathtaking stroke play in an all thunder assault making the most of a batting savvy top in an innings that by far was the peach of the match for his second test hundred in his 17th appearance as he took apart the Bangladesh attack in hoisting 147 for the second wicket off 49.4 overs together with Dinesh Chandimal who made 54 off 119 balls hitting 4 boundaries following the exit of debutant Isuru Udara for 29 caught and bowled by Taijul Islam with the score on 47 after 12.1 overs.
Nissanka continued to dominate the bowlers after Chandimal had lobbed a tach to Shadman Islam off Nayeem Hasan.
Nissanka’s great innings ended with just over 7 overs from stumps when he was bowled by quick Hasan Mahmud with the second new ball having added 38 for the fourth wicket with Kamindu Mendis, but skipper Dhananjaya de Silva joined Mendis who was on 37 with the Lankan skipper on 17 to ending the day on 368 for 4.
Sri Lanka’s best returns with the ball was by quick Asitha Fernando with a haul of 4 for 86 while conspicuously leggie Prabath Jayasuriya went wicket less on what has been is happy hunting grounds.
Chief Scores:
Bangladesh 495 (153.4 Overs)
(Mushfiqur Rahim 163, Najmul Hossain Shanto 148, Litton Das 90, Asitha Fernando 4/86, Milan Rathnayake 3/39, Tharindu Rathnayake 3/196)
Sri Lanka 368/4 (93 Overs)
(Pathum Nissanka 187, Dinesh Chndimal 54, Angelo Mathews 39, Lahiru Udara 29, Kamindu Mendis .o. 37, Dhananjaya de Silva n.o. 17, Mominul Haque 1/24, Hasan Mahmud 1/49, Nayeem Hasan 1/86, Taijul Islam 1/126)
source; sri Lanka cricket. lk
