Nissanka scores 187 as Sri Lanka responds strongly after Bangladesh sets a total of 495
Nissanka scores 187 as Sri Lanka responds strongly after Bangladesh sets a total of 495
Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh 1st Test Day 4: Sri Lanka bowled out in their 1st innings at 485. Bangladesh takes a 10-run lead.
On Day 3 in Galle, Sri Lanka’s top batters performed well, gradually reducing Bangladesh’s big first-innings score of 495. By the end of the day, Sri Lanka had scored 368 runs for 4 wickets, closing the gap to just 127 runs and putting themselves in a good spot.
The star of the day was Pathum Nissanka, who played the innings of his life. He scored a career-best 187 off 256 balls, marking his first Test century on home soil. From the moment he walked in, Nissanka looked in complete control, handling both the first and second new balls with confidence. He looked set for a double hundred, but late in the day, Hasan Mahmud bowled a sharp inducker that sneaked through bat and pad to end his brilliant knock.
That wicket gave Bangladesh a much-needed boost heading into Day 4, especially after Sri Lanka had dominated most of the day. Nissanka was involved in four key partnerships:
47 - with debutant Lahiru Udara
157 - with Dinesh Chandimal
89 - with Angelo Mathews
38 - with Kamindu Mendis
What made these stands even more effective was the scoring rate Sri Lanka kept the scoreboard ticking at around four runs an over, putting pressure back on the bowlers.
Even after Nissanka’s dismissal, Kamindu and Dhananjaya de Silva kept the momentum going, adding a quick 37 runs off just 45 balls before stumps. Bangladesh’s bowlers—Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, and Mominul Haque each picked up a wicket, but three of them went for over four an over, making it a tough day in the field.
The pitch at Galle showed some signs of wear, but it was still good for batting, especially compared to how it usually behaves by Day 3. Sri Lanka’s batters showed more intent than Bangladesh’s, who had batted at just over three runs an over for most of their innings. That difference in tempo might be what separates a 495 from a potential 600.
Now, with 75% of Bangladesh’s total wiped out in just three sessions, Sri Lanka has a real chance to take control of the match. If the weather holds, Bangladesh might find themselves batting on Day 5 just to save the Test.
Nissanka’s innings stood out not just for the runs but for the way he played. He punished anything short or overpitched, and his ability to keep the scoreboard moving helped his partners settle in. Chandimal brought up his 33rd Test fifty, while Mathews looked solid before falling to a rare delivery that turned sharply from part-timer Mominul.
Each of the wickets Sri Lanka lost came against the run of play. Udara looked confident on his debut before miscuing a return catch. Chandimal fell to a leg-side tickle, and Mathews edged one that dipped and turned unexpectedly.
But Sri Lanka kept rebuilding. Unlike Bangladesh, whose innings had two big partnerships surrounded by collapses, Sri Lanka kept the pressure on with consistent, brisk stands.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka wrapped up Bangladesh’s innings in just 15 minutes. Asitha Fernando finished with 4 for 86, cleaning up the tail efficiently