Nissanka scores gritty century to lead Sri Lanka fightback versus Bangladesh

A double hundred looked not just probable, but inevitable. Alas, as it so often does in cricket, the second new ball brought about his downfall

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A career-best 187 by the stylish Pathum Nissanka led Sri Lanka to 368-4 in its first innings on the third day of the opening test against Bangladesh on Thursday.

That left the home team 127 runs adrift of Bangladesh, which had piled up a total of 495 all out.

On a featherbed surface, Nissanka produced an innings of sublime timing and poise, the sort that makes connoisseurs purr and opponents wince.

Nissanka, whose two previous test hundreds had come overseas, finally notched his maiden century on home soil.

A double hundred looked not just probable, but inevitable. Alas, as it so often does in cricket, the second new ball brought about his downfall.

A touch too eager to assert, Nissanka offered a drive too early, left a gap between bat and pad, and was clean bowled by Hasan Mahmud.

"I was disappointed with the way I got out," Nissanka said. "I knew I had to see off the new ball. I thought the shot was on, but it was a good piece of bowling as well.