The storied Galle Worldwide Stadium set the stage for a excessive voltage battle as Sri Lanka took on Bangladesh within the first Take a look at of their 2025 collection. Bangladesh, buoyed by a formidable batting show, posted a mammoth 495 of their first innings, placing the hosts beneath immense strain. However Day 3 belonged to Pathum Nissanka, whose counter-attacking century not solely electrified the group but in addition reignited Sri Lankan hopes in a match that had threatened to slide away.
Pathum Nissanka’s dazzling century turns the tide for Sri Lanka towards Bangladesh
With Sri Lanka staring down the barrel, trailing by a frightening 495 after Bangladesh’s imposing complete—constructed on Mushfiqur Rahim’s masterful 163 and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s gritty 148—the onus was on the highest order to ship. Nissanka rose to the event with a chic century that was as a lot about resilience because it was about aptitude.
Nissanka started cautiously, weathering the early storm from Bangladesh’s pacers Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana, who constantly clocked speeds within the mid-140s. The early lack of debutant Lahiru Udara for a brisk 29 may have rattled the hosts, however Nissanka, unflappable on the crease, discovered a dependable accomplice in Dinesh Chandimal. Collectively, they stitched a vital partnership, with Nissanka reaching his fifty off 88 balls, peppered with elegant drives and guaranteed footwork.
Because the session progressed, Nissanka shifted gears, punishing something unfastened and threading the gaps with precision. His century, introduced up off simply 136 deliveries with 13 boundaries and a six, was a masterclass in counter-attacking cricket. The Galle crowd erupted as he raised his bat, acknowledging a knock that had not solely steadied Sri Lanka but in addition injected contemporary vitality into the competition.
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Right here’s how followers reacted:
third Take a look at Century for 🇱🇰🏏 Pathum Nissanka 👏
1st Take a look at Century in Sri Lanka
1st Take a look at Century towards Bangladesh #sportspavilionlk #danushkaaravinda #SLvBAN #SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/8kVS8SLG3X— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) June 19, 2025
PATHUM NISSANKA – ⭐👌#SLvBAN #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/qMJH6dSt8S
— Shivam Dubey (@ShivamDubey45) June 19, 2025
Pathum Nissanka’s third Take a look at century helps Sri Lanka scale back the deficit towards Bangladesh in Galle 👏#SLvBAN 📝: pic.twitter.com/OS4pOLyUi9
— Conor 💪 / Cristiano ♥️ (@CardozHelvin) June 19, 2025
third Take a look at 100 for Pathum Nissanka, frequent boundary hitter, he was once a gradual starter however since their collection towards Afghanistan final yr, modified his fashion and now one of the crucial prolific scorers for Sri Lanka. You’ll be able to anticipate 1-2 extra a whole bunch on this innings#SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/vOFYb8X1q2
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) June 19, 2025
First residence century for Pathum Nissanka! 🙌 What a efficiency to deliver up his third Take a look at Hundred. Preserve it going, Pathum! #SLvBAN #GalleTest pic.twitter.com/DT78FrJ8da
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) June 19, 2025
A particular one for Pathum Nissanka! 💯🇱🇰
Brings up his third Take a look at century — and his first on residence soil.
Reached in 136 balls with 13 fours & a six.
Taken a particular liking for Taijul scoring 52 runs in 53 balls.#PathumNissanka #SLvBAN #Galle #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/a1nXoH0ZdQ— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk) June 19, 2025
third Take a look at hundred for Pathum Nissanka 💯⚡#cricket #SLvsBAN #PathumNissanka #SriLankaCricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/fnecQXGg74
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) June 19, 2025
Pathum Nissanka’s third Take a look at century helps Sri Lanka scale back the deficit towards Bangladesh in Galle 👏#SLvBAN 📝: https://t.co/FVvOYQ8l3q pic.twitter.com/SineXKge7k
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2025
Pathum Nissanka is so good🔥 pic.twitter.com/F0UdthaIb9
— Brevis FC (@BraveStorm17) June 19, 2025
Pathum Nissanka 🇱🇰 in Take a look at cricket,
First Sri Lankan participant to scored 100 in 2024
First Sri Lankan participant to scored 100 in 2025 ***#SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/aWItrI0YPt— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ) June 19, 2025
Sri Lanka’s fightback within the Galle Take a look at on Day 3
Day 3 started with Sri Lanka rapidly wrapping up the Bangladesh innings, due to Asitha Fernando’s four-wicket haul and Milan Rathnayake’s disciplined bowling. The hosts, nonetheless, knew that the actual problem lay forward—negotiating Bangladesh’s spin-heavy assault on a pitch anticipated to deteriorate.
Sri Lanka’s reply was brisk and purposeful. Regardless of the early setback of Udara’s wicket, the hosts maintained a scoring fee simply above 4 runs per over. By lunch, they’d reached 100/1, with Nissanka and Chandimal trying settled. The duo’s partnership flourished, with Chandimal enjoying the proper foil, rotating strike and permitting Nissanka to dictate phrases.
By the drinks break within the second session, Sri Lanka had superior to 181/1 after 44 overs, with Nissanka unbeaten on 101 and Chandimal nearing his personal half-century. The deficit, although nonetheless substantial at 314 runs, regarded much less daunting due to the constructive intent proven by the batters. The house crowd, sensing a shift in momentum, discovered their voice, rallying behind their group because the prospect of an exciting contest loomed massive.
With loads of cricket left within the match, the stage is about for an intriguing battle. Sri Lanka’s hopes now relaxation on the shoulders of Nissanka and Chandimal to proceed their resistance, whereas Bangladesh can be determined for breakthroughs to regain management. Day 3 has already delivered excessive drama, and with the pitch more likely to provide extra for the bowlers as the sport progresses, followers can anticipate extra twists on this Galle basic.
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