Pathum Nissanka Leads Sri Lanka's Fightback
With the wicket still good for batting, Sri Lanka's batting lineup, including Pathum Nissanka, will aim to build on the foundation laid by their bowlers and take the team to a strong position in the match, despite Bangladesh's impressive first innings total.
Sri Lankan pace bowler Milan Rathnayake expressed confidence that his team can take the lead despite Bangladesh's strong first innings total of 484/9 at the end of Day 2, with Pathum Nissanka set to play a crucial role in the hosts' batting lineup.
Rathnayake took three wickets in quick succession to change the game's complexion, and he believes the hosts can knock off the remaining runs quickly and then bat well. He praised his team's effort in keeping things tight despite the Bangladesh batting unit's pressure, and he thinks the wicket is still good for batting.
Bangladesh batters Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das extended their record-breaking partnership on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka, finishing at 484 for nine. Mushfiqur scored 163, a marathon knock that spanned nearly nine hours, while Liton scored 90 off 123 deliveries. Najmul Hossain Shanto also contributed 148, but was deceived in the air as he attempted to drive one.
The match will resume 15 minutes early on Thursday to compensate for the lost time due to rain, and Sri Lanka will look to capitalize on the momentum gained by Rathnayake's bowling and Pathum Nissanka's expected batting performance to take the lead in the first Test.