Kusal and Kamindu’s counterattacking partnership, however, takes Sri Lanka’s lead past 150

Taijul Islam and Nahid Rana dragged Bangladesh back into contention on the third morning as the two Mendises – Kamindu and Kusal – battled to hold on to the advantage Sri Lanka had established on the preceding day. After a first hour that the visitors dominated with three early wickets, a 49-run stand between the pair held Bangladesh at bay, taking Sri Lanka’s lead into three figures and steadily building upon it. While off spinner Nayeem Hasan darted one through Kamindu to just about edge the session for his side, Sri Lanka’s 154-run lead at lunch already threatens to have batted Bangladesh out of forcing a positive result.

Bangladesh were staring into the abyss at the start after toiling all of the second day for two measly wickets as Sri Lanka approached 300. Early in the morning, though, Pathum Nissanka, having crossed 150, chipped Taijul to short cover. As he shuffled off to a standing ovation, Bangladesh sensed the new day was bringing with it fresh hope.

Taijul ran an arm ball through Dhananjaya de Silva in his following over, and with Sri Lanka suddenly uncertain, Bangladesh prowled. Kamindu decided to break the shackles by taking the quick bowlers on, hitting two boundaries in Ebadot Hossain’s over, and another two in Nahid Rana’s. But Rana hit the hard length and drew an edge out of nightwatcher Prabath Jayasuriya to third slip, one Mehidy Hasan Miraz snaffled on his second attempt.

It brought Kusal to the crease, and he shared Kamindu’s ideas about how to approach the innings. An entertaining passage of play followed as Sri Lanka tried to revert pressure back onto the bowlers while never quite looking convincing enough to pull clear. At one stage, an edge from Kamindu kissed off stump on its way to the boundary, incredibly without disturbing the bails.

However, Sri Lanka continued to build on their lead, and it wasn’t until the partnership was one away from 50 that a wicket arrived. Nayeem fired one into the Kamindu that never turned, and snuck past his inside edge and deflected onto the stumps off his pads. It brought renewed hope for the visitors of running through Sri Lanka’s lower order, but with Kusal holding firm at lunch, there is a ways to go before that outcome can be realised.