Nissanka's unbeaten 146 puts Sri Lanka in command

United News of India

5 hours ago

Colombo, June 26 (UNI) Sri Lanka tightened their grip on the second Test against Bangladesh at the SSC Ground today, ending Day 2 at 290 for 2 in reply to the visitors' 247, with a 43-run lead and eight wickets still intact.
Pathum Nissanka stood tall with an unbeaten 146, while Dinesh Chandimal missed a century by seven runs, falling late in the final session after a dominant 194-run second-wicket stand.
After resuming the day with Bangladesh at 237 for 8, the Sri Lankan seamers polished off the innings in under an hour. Sonal Dinusha and Asitha Fernando shared six wickets between them, with figures of 3-22 and 3-51 respectively, denying the visitors any meaningful tail-end resistance. Only Taijul Islam (33 off 60) offered brief resistance before he too perished.
In reply, Sri Lanka batted with intent and fluency, putting Bangladesh under pressure from the outset. An 88-run opening stand between Nissanka and Lahiru Udara (40) set the tone, before Udara was trapped lbw by Nayeem Hasan shortly after lunch.
What followed was a masterclass in patient acceleration, as Nissanka and Chandimal blunted the bowling during quiet passages and pounced on any error. The pair added 194 runs for the second wicket, with Chandimal eventually falling for 93, attempting a reverse sweep off Nayeem, who otherwise had a rough day, returning 1 for 45 in 14 overs.
Bangladesh's bowlers, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, offered brief spells of control, especially post-lunch and early in the final session. But their efforts were undone by inconsistent seam bowling from Ebadot Hossain and Nahid Rana, who conceded 87 runs between them in 19 overs.
Nissanka, who earlier punched his first ball for four off the back foot, displayed the full range of his skills — from tight defensive technique to attacking flair — en route to his fourth Test century. He took several blows to the helmet in a short-ball barrage after tea, but held firm, growing in confidence as the day wore on.
At stumps, Prabath Jayasuriya, in as nightwatchman, was accompanying Nissanka at the crease after surviving a tense lbw review. The hosts will begin Day 3 with the advantage, eyeing a substantial first-innings lead to bat Bangladesh out of the contest.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 247 (Shadman 46, Mushfiqur 35, Dinusha 3-22, Asitha 3-51)
Sri Lanka 290/2 in 85 overs (Nissanka 146*, Chandimal 93, Nayeem 1-45)
Sri Lanka lead by 43 runs at stumps on Day 2 UNI BDN SSP