Sri Lanka seize initiative after Nissanka, Chandimal blunt Bangladesh attack

Hosts lead by 43 with nine wickets in hand after a commanding century from Nissanka

Bangladesh are facing an uphill battle in the Colombo Test after Sri Lanka closed Day 2 on 290 for 2, securing a 43-run lead, powered by an unbeaten 146 from the opener Pathum Nissanka and a fluent 93 from Dinesh Chandimal.

Having bowled out Bangladesh for 247 earlier in the morning, Sri Lanka dominated with the bat despite brief periods of resistance from Bangladesh’s bowlers at the SCC on Thursday.

The Tigers bowlers managed just two breakthroughs throughout the day -- Lahiru Udara (40) lbw to Mehidy Hasan Miraz shortly after lunch, and Chandimal late in the final session, falling seven runs short of a century while attempting a reverse sweep off Nayeem Hasan.

Bangladesh had resumed in the morning with hopes of pushing beyond their overnight score of 220 for 8. Taijul Islam, who top-scored among the tailenders with 33, was the final wicket to fall, leaving the tourists with a subpar total on a slow but deteriorating pitch.

In response, Sri Lanka got off to a fluent start as Udara and Nissanka added 88 for the first wicket before Bangladesh briefly applied pressure with tighter spells from Miraz and Taijul.

However, a marathon 194-run stand between Nissanka and Chandimal wore down the visitors' attack.

Bangladesh’s bowlers toiled hard under the Colombo sun, with seamers Ebadot Hossain and Nahid Rana conceding 87 runs in 21 combined overs without a wicket.

A short-ball tactic employed after tea momentarily slowed the scoring with Nissanka taking two blows to the helmet, but the strategy lacked consistent penetration.

Nayeem Hasan struggled for rhythm throughout, conceding 45 runs in just seven overs. He eventually dismissed Chandimal but was unable to trouble the in-form Nissanka, who punished anything loose and looked increasingly unflappable as the day progressed.