Pathum Nissanka produced a masterful unbeaten 146 as Sri Lanka took a commanding position on Day 2 of the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The hosts closed the day on 290 for 2, building a 43-run lead after dismissing Bangladesh for 247 in the first session.
Nissanka, who struck 18 boundaries during his composed innings, forged a 194-run partnership with Dinesh Chandimal to put Sri Lanka firmly in control. Chandimal fell agonisingly short of a century, dismissed for 90 after gloving a delivery from off-spinner Nayeem Hasan to the keeper in the final session. The dismissal gave Hasan his first wicket of the match and also saw Litton Das become Bangladesh’s leading wicketkeeper in Test history, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim with his 114th dismissal.
Sri Lanka had started the day positively, with openers Nissanka and Lahiru Udara putting on a solid 90-run stand. Udara was the first to fall, trapped leg before for 40 by Taijul Islam in the second session. Bangladesh had to resort to a successful review after the on-field umpire initially turned down the appeal.
From there, Nissanka and Chandimal took control, gradually erasing the deficit and pushing Sri Lanka into the lead. At tea, the pair had added 102 runs together, with Nissanka on 93 and Chandimal on 54. The Lankans were 190 for 1 at the break, trailing by just 57 runs.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh resumed their first innings on 220 for 8 but managed only 27 more runs before being bowled out. Tailender Taijul Islam added a valuable 33 off 60 balls, forming small partnerships with Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, and Nahid Rana to push the total closer to 250.
Asitha Fernando struck early in the morning, trapping Ebadot lbw with a low delivery. Bangladesh opted to review, but the original decision stood. Taijul tried to accelerate the scoring, playing a few attacking shots, including reverse sweeps and lofted drives, before holing out to midwicket off Sonal Dinusha. Sri Lanka, however, were guilty of letting Bangladesh stretch their innings longer than necessary, dropping five catches in total—including one of Taijul when he was on 20.
With the lead already in their favour and eight wickets still in hand, Sri Lanka are well poised to build a substantial advantage heading into Day 3. Prabath Jayasuriya, sent in as nightwatchman, remained unbeaten on 5 from 13 deliveries, accompanying Nissanka to stumps.