Sri Lanka continued to assert control over the second Test against Bangladesh, reaching 190 for 1 at tea on Day 2 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. Pathum Nissanka led the charge with a composed and classy innings, remaining unbeaten on 93 off 155 deliveries, while Dinesh Chandimal offered solid support with 54* off 81 balls.
Resuming the second session at 83 without loss, the hosts lost their only wicket shortly after the interval when Taijul Islam struck with a clever arm ball to trap Lahiru Udara leg-before for 40. The decision, initially given not out, was overturned on review, ending a promising 90-run opening stand.
From there, Nissanka was joined by Chandimal at the crease, and the pair quickly took control, punishing the Bangladesh bowlers with confident strokeplay all around the wicket. Nissanka brought up his half-century off 79 balls and continued to accelerate, using his feet smartly and piercing the gaps with authority.
Chandimal, meanwhile, adopted a slightly more aggressive approach, reaching his own fifty off just 76 deliveries. Both batters looked untroubled as they stitched together an unbeaten 100-run stand for the second wicket, taking Sri Lanka within touching distance of Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 247.
The visitors’ bowlers toiled hard but were unable to break the momentum. Taijul Islam, who has looked the most threatening of the Bangladesh attack, remains the only wicket-taker so far with figures of 1 for 66. Others, including Nayeem Hasan and pacers Nahid Rana and Ebadot Hossain, have struggled to extract any assistance from a slow, dry surface that continues to favour the batters.
At tea, Sri Lanka trail Bangladesh by just 57 runs, with nine wickets in hand and two well-set batters at the crease. With Nissanka approaching a deserved century and Chandimal looking equally composed, the hosts will look to take a sizeable lead by the close of play.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be desperate for a breakthrough in the final session to claw their way back into the contest.