Sri Lanka was on 290 for 2 wickets on the second day of the second World Test Championship test match as opening batsman Pathum Nissanka ran amok with the visitors bowling attack to the tune of an unfinished 146 plundering 18 boundaries in what was his fourth test century having posted 194 for the second wicket with Dinesh Chandimal who also struck a match defining 93 falling just 7 runs short of a well deserved century three overs from stumps as Sri Lanka led by 43 runs having dismissed Bangladesh for 247, 27 runs added to the overnight 220 for 8 on the opening day with Sonal Dinusha, the debutant left arm orthodox bowler and quick Asitha Fernando mopping up the innings at the SSC Grounds on Thursday.
The 27-year old Nissanka once again emerged the champion batsman of the side with his second big score in his last three innings having blasted 187 in the Galle test match, and looked poised to following his ODI double ton in the long format when play resumes on Friday given the rollicking form the right-hander is in.
Having posted 88 for the first wicket with Lahiru Udana who scored 40, Nissanka combined with Chandimal in driving home the advantage created by the Lankan bowlers in bowling out Bangladesh for a low score. Both progressively put solid rock around the Lankan innings. Chandimal’s innings came off 153 deliveries with 10 fours and a six before falling just three overs from stumps nicking Nayeem Hasan to stumper Litton Das. Night watchman Prabath Jayasuriya survived 13 testing deliveries remaining unbeaten on 5 including freeing his arms to reaching the boundary.
Chief Scores:
Bangladesh 247 (79.3 Overs)
(Shadman Islam 46, Mushfiqur Rahim 35, Litton Das 34, Taijul Islam 33, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 31,
Monimul Haque 21, Sonal Dinusha 3/22, Asitha Fernando 3/51, Vishwa Fernando 2/45, Dhananjaya de Silva 1/15, Tharindu Rathnayake 1/72)
Sri Lanka 290/2 (78 Overs)
(Pathum Nissanka n.o. 146, Dinesh Chandimal 93, Lahiru Udara 40, Prabath Jayasuriya n.o. 5, Nayeem Hasan 1/45, Taijul Islam 1/90)