Galle, June 19 -- Partnerships were the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's strong reply on Day 3 of the opening Test against Bangladesh, as Pathum Nissanka's sublime career-best 187 guided the hosts to 368/4 at stumps, trimming the first-innings deficit to just 127 runs.
The Lankan innings, built around Nissanka's authoritative knock, was a calculated counter to Bangladesh's imposing 495. The 26-year-old right-hander dominated from the moment he walked in, showcasing a full range of strokes en route to his maiden Test century at home, and second overall.
Nissanka, who fell late in the day to the second new ball after a 256-ball masterclass, was involved in four key partnerships - 47 with debutant Lahiru Udara (29), 157 with Dinesh Chandimal (59),...